Cuyana

Well-made, timeless styles to fill your closet with fewer, better things.

About Cuyana

Let’s get real: when it comes to women’s essentials, there are a lot of great looking brands to choose from, but they are not all the same. What sets Cuyana apart from the pack? A trio of amazing design, ethically sourced materials, and the best possible construction. Combine all this with their sustainable worldview and practices of “fewer, but better”, and you’ve got a contender for some of the best essential pieces that money can buy.

Why We Love Them

While trends go out of style, Cuyana’s timeless designs never do. So the next time you shop for a bag, dress, or wallet, head to Cuyana where you can invest in pieces that you will love for years to come.

Origin Story

Founded on the principles of “fewer, but better,” as well as empowering modern women, Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah started Cuyana in 2011. At the time, Shah was also finishing business school and raising a 4 month old and a 3.5 year old. The pair created Cuyana’s intentionally designed pieces for women to love and wear consistently. Now known as one of the go-to brands for well-made essential pieces, Cuyana continues to make small batches of each piece with integrity and kindness. With many people adopting their fewer but better mission, Gallardo and Shah are a true testament to the strength and power of perseverance, and a perfect example of how female founders can shape not only their own world, but their entire society. Today, Cuyana employs over 100 people, 85% of whom are women, and are profitable after raising over $30 million. They continue to employ practices that change the way consumers view their closet, and empower people to live intentionally.

Incredibly high-quality and timeless women’s essentials, from clothing to handbags
Made with the finest materials and design to extend product life and maximize wear
All products come with a two-year warranty
Committed to using 100% sustainable materials by 2022
Firmly dedicated to producing only what’s needed, always making the right choice for the planet and its people
Women founded and lead, with a team that’s 85% women

The Science & The Soul

The Science

Cuyana has, from the start, only produced a few, well-crafted timeless pieces. They use skilled, family-run manufacturers throughout Europe, South America, China, and the US to create high-quality clothing, handbags, jewelry, and other accessories. The key is that Cuyana makes exactly what they need, and no more. They don’t have thousands of products collecting dust in storage; they gauge their sales and produce in small batches as to prevent waste. Their designs are timeless and their products are built to last, constructed in ways to maximize functionality and use.

The Soul

According to a UK study, Americans buy 68 items of clothing a year and wear a piece just seven times before throwing it away. Landfills are full of these clothes, and Cuyana wants to stop it. With their mission of “fewer, better things,” they produce only what they know they can sell, and encourage women to buy their clothing not to wear a few times, but to have for years to come.

Under their Lean Closet program, Cuyana allows their customers to donate gently used products to HEART, an organization that helps women heal from abuse. When customers send their clothing in, they receive credit with Cuyana, and 5% of these profits are donated directly to HEART.