Our story
INDIGENOUS COLOMBIANS OF THE ZENU NATION HAVE BEEN USING A SPECIAL HAT BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH. THE HAT WAS MARKED WITH DESIGNS, TRIANGLES, SYMBOLS, AND STRIPES. AT FIRST, ONLY THE ZENU PEOPLE USED THE HAT TO PROTECT THEIR FACES AND HEADS FROM THE SUN WHEN WORKING OR WALKING OUTSIDE.
WITH THE PASSING OF THE CENTURIES, MUSICIANS AND SINGERS FROM COLOMBIA'S CARIBBEAN COAST BEGAN TO NOTICE AND WEAR THE HAT. POLITICIANS AND WEALTHIER COLOMBIANS, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, DID NOT LIKE THE HATS AND WROTE THEM OFF AS "INDIAN THINGS" AND "POOR".
HOWEVER, ONCE THEY FOUND OUT THAT COLOMBIAN MUSICIANS AND FAMOUS SINGERS WERE USING THE HATS, THESE POLITICIANS AND "ELITES" HAD A CHANGE OF HEART.
TODAY THE COLOMBIAN SOMBRERO VUELTIAO IS A NATIONAL SYMBOL, IS EXPORTED FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE, IS WORN WITH GREAT PRIDE BY COLOMBIANS OF ALL SOCIAL STRATA, AND IS SOUGHT OUT BY PEOPLE FROM COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
PRODUCTOS PUYAKAN
WAS FOUNDED IN 2016 BY ENTREPRENEUR, EDUCATOR AND MUSICIAN, MIGUEL GONZALEZ. A NATIVE OF COLOMBIA, RAISED IN SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, GONZALEZ WANTED TO SHARE THE BEAUTIFUL COLOMBIAN HEADWEAR WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. HE GOT MUCH OF HIS ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT FROM HIS AUNTIE, ZORAYDA, WHOM USED TO BRING ARTISANAL ITEMS FROM COLOMBIA WITH HER DURING HER VISITS. THE LOSS OF HER LIFE IN A TRAGIC EVENT IN COLOMBIA INSPIRED GONZALEZ TO BEGIN RAISING MONEY FOR AN ORPHANAGE IN THE CITY OF CALI. IT WAS HER DREAM, ALONG WITH HIS MOTHER, WHO STILL LIVES, TO HAVE AN ORPHANAGE FOR THE DESERVING CHILDREN OF CALI.
PRODUCTOS PUYAKAN HAS BECOME A PLATFORM FOR THE FUTURE ORPHANAGE, ROSA'S GARDEN. GONZALEZ'S VISION IS TO SHARE THIS PART OF HIS CULTURE WITH THE WORLD, ALONG WITH HIS MUSIC, POETRY, AND PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH EMPOWERMENT. THE STORY BEHIND THE SOMBRERO VUELTIAO IS ONE OF SMALL BEGINNINGS THAT HAS CULMINATED INTO ONE OF GLOBAL DEMAND.