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about
Zelaya is dedicated to creating a line of clothes, handbags, and accessories that embraces fair trade values and transcends ephemeral trends through traditional and classic design with a contemporary sensibility. Our items are meant to last for generations and embody the innate intelligence and beauty of nature, tradition, and simplicity.

philosophy
Important and necessary for us is the use of socially and environmentally sustainable practices throughout all processes, from the conception of a product idea, the design of the product, the selection of the materials, to the social and environmental impacts of its production and waste.

Our products are handmade out of biodegradable and renewable materials, and are designed to eliminate the use of metallic or plastic buttons and zippers through the use of alternative fastening methods. Our products have classic and clean silhouettes to minimize the number of machine operations and showcase the beauty of the raw materials and the craftwork involved in every piece. All our items are fairly traded, environmentally friendly, and promote craft traditions in the village of Panchimalco, El Salvador.

materials
We use biodegradable and renewable raw materials to create our products, such as cotton, vegetable dyes, and upcycled fabrics, wood, and leather. The use of the fabric manta is prominent in our products, due to its textile benefits and historical importance. Manta is a fabric made out of raw, unbleached, and unprocessed cotton. It has a soft texture and a weave that allows high circulation of air. Manta has been widely used for more than a century in El Salvador, from the early indigenous groups that occupied the area to its modern inhabitants.


inspiration
We draw inspiration from three main sources: traditional Salvadoran culture, nature, and contemporary life. El Salvador is a lush, tropical country, whose economy has rested upon agricultural production for centuries. The simplicity of the traditional way of life and its magnificent flora and fauna manifests itself in the handicrafts and arts of Salvadorans. Our philosophy and design aesthetic is also heavily influenced by this simplicity and reverence for the innate beauty of nature, adding to it elements of versatility, practicality, and style that contemporary life demands.
Salvadoran women and children preparing for the for the Flower Festival of Panchimalco, a small village in El Salvador.