Cuenca leather goods company Qiwa Cueros exports internationally and outfits the stars

By Stephen Vargha

When it comes to longevity, leather can easily out last synthetic leather. Animal-based leather is time-tested, with products in pretty good condition after a century or more.

Qiwa Cueros is making 4,000 leather handbags by hand for a Canadian airline’s flight attendants.

Depending on how it’s made and used, synthetic leather can be less durable as it can chip, crack, or peel with frequent use.

That is a big reason that Qiwa Cueros has been in business for over three decades. The name is Quechua and basically means “Harvest of the Land.”

“My father founded the company 35 years ago when he started exporting leather sleeves for letter jackets at U.S. universities,” said Carolina Malo. “Then Orvis started buying our leather jackets.”

Founded in 1856, Orvis is a family-owned retail and mail-order business in Vermont that specializes in fly fishing, hunting, and sporting goods.

Unique leather goods are designed by the Cuenca leather company.

Shortly after Orvis, the movie-themed restaurant chain Planet Hollywood was launched in New York’s Times Square with leather jackets by the Malo family.

Launched on October 22, 1991, Hollywood stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger were present for the restaurant’s grand opening. Many wore Planet Hollywood leather jackets that were made in Cuenca, including Schwarzenegger.

For the 1997 action thriller with Harrison Ford, “Air Force One,” the Malo family business provided leather bomber jackets.

Dozens of handbags await delivery.

Malo, 36, is the third family member to spearhead the business. She took over ten years ago, being well prepared to move Qiwa Cueros forward.

After high school, Malo studied in Germany for a year. She came home to get a degree in communications and advertising from the University of Azuay (UDA).

“After graduating, I started in our store in El Centro,” said Malo. “I learned the business including making contracts.”

The store had been in existence for just a few years. The Great Recession of 2008 was the impetus.

Each leather item at Qiwa Cueros is given special, individual attention.

“The market in the U.S. crashed, so we decided to make our own brand and to promote it,” said Malo. “USAID helped us make our own brand and flagship store.”

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has led U.S. development and humanitarian efforts around the world since 1961.

On January 23, the Trump administration put nearly all of USAID’s 4,700 workers on paid administrative leave globally and stated that it would be terminating 1,600 of those positions.

After her time in El Centro, Malo spent a year in Argentina to learn leather techniques. That was followed by two months in Milan, Italy.

Carolina Malo examines one of the handmade leather jackets her company has produced.

Milan is considered a treasure trove for those seeking high-quality, luxurious leather goods. And it is a fashion center. Malo learned trend forecasting and design making while in Italy. It was an invaluable experience.

“They open your mind to new things,” said Malo.

Malo returned to Cuenca to become the manager of the El Centro store before she received her MBA in Barcelona, Spain.

Now, she is in charge of 16 employees on the northeast side of the city, just across the street from the Milchichig River.

The El Centro store on Padre Aguire was shuttered due to the construction of the Tranvía line which closed the two streets, where the store was located, for two years.

Carolina Malo shows some of the leather they get from the tanneries in Ambato. High-end leather comes from Italy and Colombia.

The only retail outlet not at the factory today is a kiosk on the second floor at Mall Del Río.

Qiwa Cueros’ goal is quality over quantity. They get their leather from the tanneries in Ambato (Tungurahua province). For special high-end orders, Qiwa Cueros procures leather from Italy and Colombia.

Leather comes from the hides of livestock, that are primarily raised for meat and dairy. The hides from those animals that aren’t turned into leather typically end up in landfills or are incinerated.

Unique leather products on display at the company store at the factory. The company name has been on them since 2009.

The alternative is faux leather, otherwise known as pleather. It is made out of either polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Both are types of plastic.

The use and disposal of PVC can release toxic chlorine-based chemicals. The plastic is one of the world’s largest sources of dioxin.

Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

Leather handbags are being hand stitched at the Cuenca factory for a large order from North America.

While Qiwa Cueros can’t compete with China on quantity, it can compete on quality.

“The cost of Chinese labor is less. They also have machines that can mass produce,” said Malo. “Everything here is hand inspected and looked over before it is made.”

Machine stitching in China can take an average of an hour for certain leather products while the same item that is handstitched at Qiwa Cueros would take three hours.

“Machines stitch is fast. Hand stitch puts more value and soul into each product,” said Malo.

Every product at Qiwa Cueros is hand stitched. “Hand stitch puts more value and soul into each product,” said Carolina Malo.

Every month, Qiwa Cueros produces about 80 leather jackets, 500 women’s handbags, 500 men’s and women’s wallets, 50 briefcases, and promotional items.

Promotional items are special orders from corporations. Each order is not replicated out of respect for the corporate customer.

Indurama, the Cuenca company that produces kitchen and refrigeration systems, ordered big foldable handbags. A Canadian airline recently ordered 4,000 leather handbags for its flight attendants.

An Ecuadorian bank ordered 1,700 shoes and handbags for its employees. Next month, Qiwa Cueros will deliver 200 leather jackets and 200 flower shawls for the Houston, Texas women’s outerwear fashion company ShannieGirl for a rodeo.

An employee at Qiwa Cueros finely inspects one of the products before it is shipped out.

Like many businesses in Ecuador, last year’s electricity crisis was difficult for Qiwa Cueros. The power outages ended in December when it started raining steadily in Cuenca.

“Now we are very busy,” said Malo.

Word has gotten out as the leather company is now filling an order from the Middle East country Dubai. Handbags and belts with leather and linen are being produced.

“Dubai likes bright colors, especially yellow, blue, and purple,” said Malo. “They are royal colors.”

Anyone can get hand stitched leather goods from Qiwa Cueros. Almost anything is possible.

“We can make custom things for customers in Cuenca,” said Malo. “We have made custom leather bomber jackets. Right now, we are making some for some retired military veterans who now live in Cuenca.”

They used to make leather hats, but they took a lot of time, and the company was not getting a lot of orders for them.

But they do make leather dress shoes for women. One can go to the factory and get sized to have a pair of custom leather shoes.

“Our products are unique and different,” said Malo. “One designer.”

Just ring the doorbell at the factory entrance to see the great variety of handmade leather goods.
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Qiwa Cueros, Carolina Malo, Calle Paseo de Milchichig 1-03, Avenida de las Americas, Cuenca 010109, (07) 234-1161, 099-880-4435 (WhatsApp), Hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Qiwa Cueros, Mall Del Río, Second Floor Kiosk, Av. Felipe II y Circunvalación Sur, Cuenca, Hours are 7 days per week, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Photos by Stephen Vargha

Stephen Vargha’s second edition of his book about Cuenca, “Una Nueva Vida – A New Life” is available at Amazon in digital and hardback formats. His award-winning blog, “Becoming Cuenca,” supplements his book with the latest information and hundreds of professional photos by him.