GIRON APPAREL AND HOME

Giron Guatemalan Apparel and Home was inspired by our time in Antigua, Guatemala. Manny and I were both born in Chicago, but our Guatemalan heritage has always been a big part of who we are. During COVID, we decided to explore our roots and moved to Guatemala. With our backgrounds in design, carpentry, and sewing, and a newfound appreciation for Guatemalan traditions and textiles, we returned to Chicago with a mission: to create a brand that honors, preserves, and elevates these traditions while also celebrating our love for Chicago by bridging the two cultures.                                                                         

PARALELO 14 COFFEE

Leonardo, originally from Chicago, grew up traveling to his family's homeland of Guatemala. Although he always loved coffee, it wasn't until he spent the past six years living in Antigua that he understood the hard work behind it. Paralelo 14 Coffee started as a coffee tour operator in Antigua, where Leonardo saw firsthand the challenges small producers face, especially in securing fair margins. Since then, Paralelo 14 Coffee has been paying more than double the Fair Trade minimum, offering $4 per pound directly to producers compared to the standard $1.80. This reflects their dedication to equitable practices.

ORDO TOOLS & CERAMICS

ORDO TOOLS & CERAMICS WAS FOUNDED AS THE CREATIVE OUTLET TO NOEL AND GIOVANA'S PARTNERSHIP. NOEL, BORN IN MEXICO, AND GIOVANA, BORN IN GUATEMALA, WERE BOTH RAISED IN DENVER, COLORADO. THEIR EXPERTISE IN ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN & SOCIAL WORK, INSPIRE AND SHAPE THEIR CREATIONS. THEY AIM TO DESIGN PIECES THAT HARMONIOUSLY BLEND BEAUTY WITH ACCESSIBILITY, exploring traditional materials such as ceramic, wood, and metal to craft functional and aesthetically pleasing objects.