Brand Review: Cuyana

A part of this journey is discovering new brands, but an equally important part (I believe!) is diving into the brands that I love with claims of ethical practices and figuring out if all is truly as great as promised.

I can’t quite remember how Cuyana and I first became acquainted, mostly because I shudder to think of a time before I knew about them- some love stories just work like that. My first purchase from them was the incredibly sturdy Classic Leather Tote with gold embossed initials. I was initially interested because of the embossing-- it is truly amazing how quickly the siren call of gold embossing reels me in. You can take the girl out of the South but you can’t take the south out of a girl… But I digress. That bag and I have SEEN things together. The leather is so incredibly durable and has held its own through cross continental trips, numerous coffee stains (it is my fault that the pocket is the EXACT same size as a small cold brew??), NYC subways, exploding toiletries, and everything else in between.

What makes Cuyana so special? It is not some in-explainable mystical thing. Rather, it so simple it makes you wonder why every brand isn’t doing it-- quality and design. The motto of Cuyana is “Fewer, Better” which essentially means that their products are the tried-and-true pieces that will hold a forever place in your wardrobe. Each piece is made from high quality ingredients sourced internationally. Once the leather or silk or cotton is chosen, Cuyana builds a full production chain around the material in its country of origin, which creates jobs for artisans while also reducing costs for the consumer. The timeless nature of the pieces, coupled with the global aesthetics, means that each individual item emotes the feeling of luxury and as cheesy as it sounds… love. Which doesn’t seem that strange considering that’s what Cuyana means in Quechua ( a South American language, duh)

Cuyana makes a compelling case for a capsule like wardrobe to even a maximalist like me. You pay for what you get: the goods aren’t priced cheaply, but their longevity transcends trends. They even encourage you to buy less stuff by providing a donation bag to return goods for a $10 discount on future purchases.

Over the years, my Cuyana collection has continued to grow/explode and now includes monogrammed travel pouches, a zip top tote, and a bucket bag. My sister and I even got dressed in matching Turkish cotton robes on her wedding day. With each purchase, I continue to be more and more impressed with the amazing quality. I’m excited to continue building my collection. From the trench coat (which I am patiently waiting to get re-stocked in my size) to an alpaca cape (could there a more perfect carry on layer??), these are the pieces that I will keep on my wish list and save up to buy. And that is just the tip of my Cuyana iceberg … I would link every single thing on their website here, but for the sake of not bombarding you, these are my top picks:

ONE: I can't count the numerous friends I consulted during my pre-Panama Hat days. Does this look okay? Am I really a hat person? Buying the first one felt like a major life decision. Now that I OWN one, I can't go back. It offers the perfect amount of sun protection, looks very cool, and is so sturdy that you can pack it in your suitcase with little to no damage.
TWO: I love when a trend comes back round-- and I think the re-purposed trend of tying a scarf around your neck is incredibly chic. But what I like even more is I can buy this scarf for that purpose and when I grow tired of that look/ am no longer able to ignore my boyfriend making fun of me, I can tie this on a purse, my wrist, or even drape it somewhere in my apartment for unlimited versatility.
THREE: Is it just me or is transitional weather so confusing? I never know what layers to be wearing when and always seem to be frozen or melting at my desk depending on the fickle attention of the A/C. This bomber jacket seems like the perfect companion to hold my hands and warm my heart through these tough days.
FOUR: In the summer, I sometimes forget that what I do all day isn’t lounging at the beach. Because in my head, that's precisely what I am doing. This cover-up looks ideal for those rare but magical days. Luckily, it would also be perfect with a slip dress underneath for the activities of summer that don’t involve lounging on the beach, AKA actually every day.
FIVE: Anytime someone is hunting for a gift, I recommend these pouches at the top of my list. My sister, mother, friends, and former coworkers seem to all have them. They are also incredibly functional-- I use the smaller one for my to-go essentials to easily move from bag to bag and the larger one for travel organization.
SIX: If you are looking for an everyday bag, don’t look any further. I’m serious. Just buy it. I rotate between my black and tan Cuyana bags every single day. They are also fantastic for packing at the bottom of a suitcase!

That's what Cuyana is making... here is how they are making it good: