Chilean and Ecuadorian Fashion Designers and Makers to Know
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Chile and Ecuador rarely dominate the fashion-week headlines, and that is a large part of their appeal. Between Santiago’s design-minded barrios, Valparaíso’s hillside studios and Ecuador’s long-standing straw and textile traditions, both countries reward the shopper who values craft over logos. Think of this as a companion to our Latin American fashion designers hub, focused on the makers and traditions worth seeking out.
Santiago: Where Chilean Design Lives
In Santiago, independent design gathers in a few walkable neighborhoods. Barrio Italia, with its converted houses and leafy interior patios, is the city’s go-to for small-label clothing, jewelry and homewares, while Lastarria pairs galleries and cafés with design-forward storefronts. Chilean independent fashion leans toward clean lines, natural fibers and a quietly practical attitude, which makes sense for a capital with real winters and the Andes on the horizon.
The best approach is to wander rather than hunt for a single address. Many of the city’s small labels sell directly from their own studios or showrooms, and the people behind the counter are often the people behind the designs, which makes it easy to ask where and how a piece was made.
- Look for — knitwear in Chilean wool, minimalist tailoring, and jewelry set with lapis lazuli
- Why we love it — understated pieces that work as well at home as they do on the road
Mapuche Silverwork
Mapuche platería is one of Chile’s most distinctive adornment traditions. Pieces such as the trapelacucha, a pectoral of linked plates and pendants, and large disc-shaped earrings carry cultural and ceremonial meaning, and Mapuche silversmiths continue the craft today in both traditional and contemporary forms.
Buy with respect. Seek out work made by Mapuche artisans themselves, ask who made a piece and where, and be skeptical of mass-produced lookalikes sold without attribution. A smaller, genuine piece will always mean more than a convincing copy.
Chamantos, Chiloé Wool and Rari Horsehair
Chile’s rural crafts produce some of its most wearable souvenirs. The chamanto, a finely woven reversible poncho traditionally worn by huasos, Chile’s horsemen, is closely associated with the town of Doñihue in the O’Higgins Region. Knitwear from the island of Chiloé, from chunky sweaters to socks and hats in natural wool, is exactly what you want for a trip south.
Then there is crin, the delicate horsehair weaving of Rari, a small village in the Maule Region. Artisans there dye and weave horsehair into tiny figures, butterflies and earrings. They are featherlight, beautifully colored and unmistakably Chilean, and they pack into almost nothing.
Lapis Lazuli: Chile’s Blue Stone
Chile is one of the world’s best-known sources of lapis lazuli, and the deep blue stone appears in everything from fine jewelry to simple pendants. Quality varies widely. The most prized lapis is an even, saturated blue with little white calcite, sometimes flecked with gold-toned pyrite. Ask whether a piece is solid stone or reconstituted, and favor jewelers who answer plainly.
Valparaíso’s Hillside Studios
In Valparaíso, the creative energy lives on the cerros. Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción are the places to wander for artist-run studios, illustrators, printmakers and small jewelry and clothing makers, many of them selling their own work. The port city’s bohemian streak shows up in bold color, hand-printed textiles and one-off pieces rather than polished seasonal collections, so come with an open mind and a little room in your bag.
Ecuador’s Toquilla Straw Hats
The so-called Panama hat is Ecuadorian through and through, woven from the fibers of the toquilla palm. The traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, and two places define the craft: Montecristi, on the coast, celebrated for its exceptionally fine weaves, and Cuenca, in the southern highlands, a center for finishing, blocking and shaping. Homero Ortega, a family hat house based in Cuenca, is one of the best-known names.
- Check the weave — finer, tighter and more even generally means more hours of work
- Ask about care — whether a hat can be rolled or should travel in a box depends on the weave, so ask the maker
- Mind the price — the finest Montecristi weaves are investment pieces, and should be priced like them
Otavalo, Salasaca and Andean Textiles
North of Quito, the town of Otavalo is home to Kichwa Otavalo weavers and one of the best-known markets in South America. Alongside souvenir stalls you will find wool ponchos, tapestries, embroidered blouses and scarves. In the central highlands near Ambato, the Salasaca community is known for its woven tapestries with distinctive figurative designs.
Ecuador also offers tagua, the dense nut known as vegetable ivory, carved and dyed into buttons and jewelry, and shigras, colorful bags made from agave fiber. Both make light, characterful gifts.
Sensi Studio and Ecuador’s Contemporary Edge
For a modern take on toquilla straw, Sensi Studio, which we feature in our designer hub, turns the material into sculptural hats, bags and accessories. It is a good example of how Ecuadorian craft moves gracefully into contemporary wardrobes, and a reminder that tradition and fashion are not opposites here.
How to Shop It
In both countries, the best purchases come with a story you can verify. Ask who made a piece, where and how; buy from cooperatives or directly from makers when you can; and carry small bills for markets. Hats travel best in a sturdy box or carried by hand. Chile has strict agricultural controls on arrival, so declare plant- or animal-based items when entering, and check your home country’s rules before flying back. For more city-by-city shopping, browse our Latin America shopping guides.
Your next good read
Keep exploring with Jet Set LatAM
Go deeper into the destination or follow a shared interest through these stories.
- Valparaíso Art Guide: The Best Galleries, Open-Air Murals and Artist Spaces on the Hills
- Where to Shop in Arequipa: Alpaca, Artisan Textiles and Design Courtyards Beyond the Souvenir Stalls
- Latin American Fashion Gifts and Souvenirs Worth Buying, Country by Country
- A Designer Capsule Wardrobe for Latin America, City by City
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