by: Maria Belen Iturralde
There is a long list of things that have changed or have come to a temporary halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most notable, however, is the lack of travel. While we stay home to avoid further spread of the virus, many of us find ourselves longing for the trips and adventures that once filled us with joy.
]]>There is a long list of things that have changed or have come to a temporary halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most notable, however, is the lack of travel. While we stay home to avoid further spread of the virus, many of us find ourselves longing for the trips and adventures that once filled us with joy.
There is no better moment than now — when time seems to be in abundance — to start planning your next adventure! Because of this, we’ve rounded up the best eco-hotels in Ecuador to disappear into once we can do more than armchair travel.
Ecuador, a haven for wildlife and biodiversity, is the source of inspiration for our Remu jackets. It is also home to some of the best eco-hotels in the world. These accommodations coexist in harmony with their surroundings and provide for the most immersive getaway experiences.
Featured in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and countless other global publications, this eco-hotel in the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon was built, as per their website, with the “latest techniques in sustainable construction.” Only 60 miles from Quito, it’s a stone’s throw from the country’s capital city but is indeed an oasis of natural wonders. Whether you’re waking up to the view of the lush Choco Rainforest, having breakfast while birdwatching in the terrace, indulging in a spa treatment, exploring their extensive library, or taking a walk in the intoxicatingly diverse cloud forest, you are bound to feel at one with nature. Mashpi, like Remu, strives to foster the local economy by employing locals, which is why 75% of their employees are from the area and are themselves significant stakeholders of the business. The hotel is at once overwhelmingly luxurious and admirably responsible.
Mashpi Lodge, Pacto, Quito, Ecuador | (+593) 2400-8088 | mashpilodge.com
The Galapagos Islands, known worldwide for their pristine landscapes and largely-untouched biodiversity, houses one of the world’s best ecological stays, Pikaia Lodge. Located in Santa Cruz island, it offers both opulent comfort and responsible indulgence. It is the ultimate destination for the “environmentally conscious, physically active and adventurous traveler who seeks close contact with the unique natural wonders of the Galapagos.” Experience the unrivaled magic of the archipelago while staying at one of the most unique lodgings in the country. Enjoy panoramic views of the island, take a walk beside wild giant tortoises, dine at the edge of a crater, take in a spectacular view of the ocean from the pool, all whilst leaving little-to-no environmental footprints.
Sector El Camote, Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador | (+593) 98-115-5810 | pikaialodge.com
Located in the heart of Yasuni National Park, this eco-lodge is a gateway into the most biodiverse place on Earth. Explore the local culture, watch the native birds, coexist beside the area’s animals and experience the most striking views in complete harmony with nature. Take in the crisp, clean air whilst watching the natural world unfold before your eyes. This sustainable hotel is one of the most unique stays in the world, a once-in-a-lifetime must-see where humans coexist in perfect harmony with their surroundings and the astoundingly-rich flora and fauna of the area. Retreat into cozy cabins after a full day of adventuring, exploring and experiencing the unparalleled natural world of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. At Remu, we hope to support local communities in Ecuador and foster social responsibility. The Napo Wildlife Center strives to do so too; it is managed by the local community, the Kichwa Añangu, and thus benefits both locals and the environment.
Yasuni National Park by the Añangu Lake | (+593) 99-275-0088 | napowildlifecenter.com
Nestled between palm trees and greenery and home to one of the most unique restaurants in the country, this eco hotel is one of the finest stays along the Ecuadorian coastline. Consciousness and pleasure converge in this corner of Puerto Cayo, providing visitors with an unforgettable experience. The hotel is powered by solar panels and waste undergoes a careful filtering process. Perhaps one of the most unique (and widely acclaimed) elements of this hotel is its restaurant Bocavaldivia, which strives to use the cooking practices of our ancestors and thus sources all ingredients organically, prizing artisanal fishing and agriculture. The toiletries provided are organic and fair trade and the hotel’s manager has begun a ‘green’ project to bring attention to the importance of rainforest conservation and ethical harvests. The hotel employs a plethora of people from nearby villages to spur on the local economy as well. Wake up to a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean whilst enjoying exquisitely sustainable travel.
Ruta del Sol 12km Norte, Puerto Cayo 130312 | (+593) 99-819-9428 | tanusas.earth/hotel
This hotel, nestled in the foothills of the imposing Rumiñahui volcano, presents a unique opportunity to stay in the heart of the Andes mountain range. Their goal is to “share and preserve one of the most beautiful places on our planet with a long term vision”. They partner with a local nonprofit ‘Fundacion Paramo’ to implement responsible conservation programs and educate both visitors and local residents on environmental consciousness. They source products, food and labor from local communities and strive to practice sustainable living through proper waste management, green construction and low-consumption energy systems. Experience the thrill of staying by the active Cotopaxi volcano at an altitude of 3,600 meters whilst enjoying local food and culture in the most inviting environment. A stay here is bound to be an unforgettable adventure.
Norte Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, Machachi 171110 | (+593) 22-040-2098 | tierradelvolcan.com/es/hacienda-el-porvenir
The hospitality industry has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. Today, the kindest thing we can do is stay home. Eventually, though, travelling will be the way in which we show compassion to those around us. Visiting one of these magical hotels is the perfect way to treat your adventurous side and explore the diverse natural worlds housed within one country, while helping local economies and supporting sustainable practices. We’ll be keeping these in mind for your travel plans once it’s safe to leave our homes...will you? Which one of these do you want to visit first?
]]>With your help, we want to donate non-medical reusable facemasks to those in need. We feel the responsibility to help those closest to Remu, the community of Miranda.
Miranda is the small community on the outskirts of Quito where we have our production studios. We will donate 10 masks for every $10 donated, this way we are able to distribute masks to high-risk populations in need while being able to continue to provide our employees with fair pay in these uncertain times.
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Dar una mano Ecuador - Many people in Ecuador depend on their daily jobs to survive and acquire food, and while they are not working they lack resources to provide for their families. You can buy food baskets that will be donated to people and families in need.
WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund - is a secure way for individuals, philanthropies, and businesses to contribute to the WHO-led effort to respond to the pandemic.
American Red Cross - The American Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed to donate now to help patients counting on lifesaving blood.
The Salvation Army - We need support from our communities to continue to meet the daily needs of these vulnerable populations. Your donations will continue to help us respond to the situation.
CDC Foundation - The CDC Foundation is an independent nonprofit and the sole entity created by Congress to mobilize philanthropic and private-sector resources to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s critical health protection work. Give to Combat Coronavirus: New Crowdfunding Campaign
Direct Relief - Direct Relief works in the U.S. and internationally to equip doctors and nurses with life-saving medical resources to care for the world's most vulnerable people.
No Kid Hungry - Millions of children are losing the healthy meals they depend on as the coronavirus closes schools. But No Kid Hungry has a plan to feed them.
International Medical Corps - You can help us provide lifesaving healthcare and supplies to children, families, and communities who have lost everything due to natural disasters, war, and conflict, or disease.
Global Giving - Your donation to this fund will help stop the virus's spread and give communities on the front lines of the crisis the resources they need to act quickly and protect the most vulnerable.
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Keep updated on COVID-19 stats at Johns Hopkins Univerity website.
]]>Faced with this question, most of us would promptly resort to reciting a list of popular brands or retail stores of the likes of Zara or H&M or Urban Outfitters or Macy’s. Few would name the garments’ true places of origin: China or Bangladesh, perhaps Thailand or India.
Most consumers are oblivious - willfully or unintendedly - of where their garments come from. The unfortunate truth is, most retailers wouldn’t be able to tell you either. Something about the convenience of having cheap, easily-accessible clothes makes it easy for all of us to remain blissfully ignorant.
According to an article published in Vogue, “61% of clothing companies don’t know where their garments were made,” which means most people are unaware of the living conditions of whoever is making their clothes or the fact that the average garment worker in Bangladesh lives on merely $3.00 a day.
Mass production and rising demand result in egregious working conditions for millions of people around the globe. This, however, is no reason to be disheartened; herein lies an opportunity to make a difference. Demanding quality -not only in the products we buy but in the lives of the people involved in their production process-, reducing consumption and simply being aware are all small efforts that can make an extraordinary difference in the lives of factory workers. Here at Remu, we are committed to creating a safe working environment for our manufacturers alongside fair, above-average wages. We hope to inspire you to join us!
How to help
By: Maria Belen Iturralde
]]>We began the year with the launch of our online store, where we made our first sales outside of Kickstarter. Around April we received the invitation to join IMPAQTO Lab, an accelerator program for startups with an economic, environmental or social impact in Ecuador. During our six months in the program, we learned how to correctly measure our impact and improved our business model and operations.
1.Remu Apparel- Custom Upcycled Denim Jacket.
Remu Apparel focuses on creating not just a solution to textile waste by using upcycled jeans to make their unique denim jackets, but also the empowerment and self sufficiency of women in marginal areas of Ecuador.
The Custom Denim jacket, allows you to choose what type of materials to be used (all sustainably sourced or upcycled), and create you one of kind design.
https://remuapparel.com/collections/personalized
2. ThinkDirty- Clean-Beauty Box.
Think Dirty is a company fully committed to educating about clean beauty products, and the truth about what chemicals in traditional cosmetics have on us. Backed by scientific research (always linked in each of the products page), you can determine weather your lipstick, shampoo or moisturizer is creating a hormonal imbalance or releasing carcinogens into your body.
Gifting their beauty box subscription is the perfect gift of self-love. There are several, beautifully curated, boxes you can choose from.
https://www.thinkdirtyapp.com/
3. Package Free Shop- Zero Waste Kit.
“On a mission to make the world less trashy”, Package Free Shop is your go-to for zero-waste essentials.
You can choose from your basic starter kit, to a skincare routine kit, or even one for your pets. All of these include the essentials you’ll need to live the trash-free-earth-loving life you always wanted.
https://packagefreeshop.com/collections/zero-waste-kits-1
4. Pela Case- World’s First Sustainable Phone Case.
The world’s first 100% compostable phone case is the perfect gift for the tech and nature lover in your life.
Pela Case is made from a compostable bioplastic composed of flax straw. Additionally, Pela has a Cause cases that donate a % of their proceeds to organizations who work for specific environmental causes. Save the bees, Shark Bite, and Polar Bear are some of our favorites.
https://pelacase.com/collections/limited-edition-polar-bear-cases
https://pelacase.com/collections/limited-edition-shark-bite-cases
https://pelacase.com/collections/limited-edition-honey-bee-cases
5. Amarapura Lifestyle- LifeDesign Retreat.
Soulful, natural luxury. Devoted to creating experiences that enhance your sensitivity towards life and exploring the world through the eyes of a nomad. Amarapura Lifestyle hosts retreats around the world that connect yogis, spiritual guides, artists, and beautiful places to help you design a life of abundance and spirituality.
https://www.instagram.com/amarapuralifestyle/?hl=en
6. All Birds- Sustainable Sneakers.
The most comfortable shoes in the world were designed to keep your feet and the planet happy. Allbirds is one of the few certified BCorps brands, focused on making incredible and sustainable products from renewable and sustainably sourced materials. Soft, warm and incredibly cool styles to wear everyday.
7. BLUELAND- Plastic + chemical free cleaning kit.
Cleaning your home, to save OUR home. Blueland created a series of non-toxic, refillable, incredibly simple-to-use cleaning products. Focused on helping you reduce the amount of single-use plastic in your home, all you need to do is fill up your Blueland bottle with water, drop in the tablet, and use it! Some of our picks include the Glass+Mirror Set and the Multi-Surface Set, but you can find a variety of products for every inch of your house.
https://www.blueland.com/pages/shop
8. YogaGirl retreat- Ubud, Bali. April 11-18, 2020.
Spend a week in Bali with Bee Bosnak, one of the world’s best yoga and meditation teachers in the world. Focus on healing, meditating and enjoying the most beautiful island in the world.
https://www.yogagirl.com/attend/retreats/partner-page/78KQctY6uZx8u7Z6HfYwO7
9. 5 Gyres- Donate to end plastic pollution.
The 5Gyres Institute is a non-profit focused on ending ocean plastic pollution. With a world-wide ambassador program to spread the latest scientific findings on plastic pollution, and ocean research expeditions, they have become leaders in the environmental movement. This is the perfect way to put your words into actions, and gifting our world with solutions.
10. Liforme- Biodegradable, non-toxic, PVC-free yoga mats
Yoga’s favorite mat is not just designed to enhance your practice, and help you connect to your intention, but save the planet. Liforme is a non-toxic, biodegradable yoga mat, and the most recommended by some of the world’s best yoga teachers, for its unique alignment system. The perfect gift for the yogi in your life.
https://us.liforme.com/?storeRedirect=US
Nonetheless, we were never a hammock company. A month into the project, we began to question where our products were being produced, who was producing them, under what conditions and with what kind of materials. We wanted to be a transparent company through which we would be accountable for the quality of our products and the working conditions of the people that made them. We decided to maintain the logo and the name as we felt they were now a part of our identity. However, in the summer of 2019 everything changed for us. We realized our products were not living up to our sustainability goals, so we pushed the pause button and went back to the drawing board. This change was triggered when we found out that our old suppliers from the local artisanal market sold the fibers as if they were alpaca or wool but in reality, it was made out of acrylic fibers.
We knew we needed to take responsibility and stand behind our purpose and the products we make. After searching for months, we found new, local suppliers aligned with our vision of social and environmental sustainability. Since then, we have been developing our latest collection of products, as well as improving upon other aspects of Remu. For example, we felt as if our logo was no longer representative of our company, and thus we opted for a total restructuring process.
We have been working nonstop for the past five months with Ecuadorian independent design studio, Luna Lunares, to refresh our brand and give it a new visual identity that aligned with all the changes we have implemented. Today, we are proud to present our new image. We invite you to join us on this journey to boldly go where no one has gone before.
Remu Apparel: For the bold and adventurous.
]]>We asked our community to share with us their favorite songs to listen to while road-tripping. We have compiled what we believe to be the perfect road-trip playlist!
This time of the year is perfect to head out on the road, whether it is cruising through the coastline, driving down to a festival or exploring the great outdoors. We believe a great adventure would not be complete without the perfect soundtrack.
With that in mind, we set out to create the perfect summer road trip playlist. To do so we asked and you answered. Here is the curated list of songs that our community shared with us, plus some that our team felt were essential for this playlist to be complete. Keep these tunes around and we guarantee that you will have a great time while driving down the highway into your next adventure.
Here is a list of some of our favorite jams in this list. Check out the link below for the full playlist.
Happy driving from the REMU Apparel Team.