photo by angela divine photography
After graduating from college with a degree in business economics five years ago, Megan Dalbec found herself teaching English in Ecuador. She was immediately impressed by the country’s talented artisans, whose traditional methods had been passed down for centuries. Yet, in spite of their skill, many artisans could not rely on income from their creative trade to support their families.
That experience inspired the Minneapolis entrepreneur to found Lion Heart Girl, a socially conscious brand that empowers Ecuadorian artisans to make a reliable income from their craft. Through a collaborative design process, Dalbec works with a group of artisans to create a line of leather goods, handbags, jewelry, ponchos, and blankets, all handmade from sustainable resources. The items reflect traditional Ecuadorian culture and craft while updating styles for the modern marketplace—such as colorful, hand-embroidered leather cross-body bags with suede fringe as well as woven necklaces made from hand-dyed seeds harvested from the Amazon. • Available at Showroom, showroommpls.com
