Protect Our Identity

The Last Traditional Sombrero

Unay Muchiku

Our Cultural Heritage

A black and white logo graphic of a cowboy hat, long braided hair, and a triangle incorporated into the letters 'U' and 'M' in the background.

A Kichwa Family Traditional Workshop & Boutique

Two downward-pointing white arrows on a black background.
Man wearing a wide-brimmed brown hat, a white shirt, and a blue poncho sitting against a rocky background.
A woman wearing a burgundy hat, white embroidered blouse, black skirt, and gold jewelry, holding a brown handbag inside a shop with indigenous clothing and hats displayed on the walls and tables.
A woman wearing a large blue hat with a colorful band, white embroidered blouse, beige shawl, and colorful jewelry, sitting outdoors near wooden posts.
Two black downward-pointing arrows stacked vertically on a white background.

The Highest Quality 

100% of our hats are created by hand, preserving an Andean ancestral craft important to Ecuador's Kichwa culture. No machines, chemicals, or synthetic fibers are used in the process. Our products are expertly crafted from the finest, locally sourced sheep and alpaca wool. We believe in conserving our culture and strengthening our communities. Every step of the process within our workshop is carried out with deep dedication and attention to detail. One single hat can take anywhere from a week to even months to create.

A woman and four young girls, dressed in traditional clothing, sit together on the floor, sorting and handling wool fibers.

Our boutique has partnered with other talented artisans offering you a variety of specialties

A beige woven textile hanging on a wooden rod with fringe at the bottom, featuring a pattern of horizontal stripes and diamond shapes near the bottom section.
A brown, knitted hooded poncho with fringes at the bottom hanging on a wooden hanger against a black background.
Multiple beige and patterned scarf hanging on a twisted wooden rod against a black background.
a black arrow pointing downward

May our story lead to the renewed appreciation and demand for the forgotten traditional artisans

A woman dressed in traditional Ecuador Kichwa clothing, including a white hat, colorful embroidered blouse, and beaded jewelry, is smiling while working with raw wool in a workshop.

Unay [ooh-nahy] adj. 1. of long ago 2. traditional

Muchiku [mu-chee-koo] n. 1. sombrero / hat

My name is Belen Picuasi and I am a Kichwa artisan of Ecuador. My mother and I have created Unay Muchiku in honor of the Picuasi family tradition. Together as a family, we have dedicated over 300 years to the craftsmanship of handmade hats for our country.

At Unay Muchiku, we use nature as our source and a traditional manual compacting method passed down by our ancestors. The sweat and energy to craft one hat is evident in the quality. Our boutique offers both traditional and western style clothing made with the highest standard. We also offer tours, classes, and much more.

We created this website to provide education of our beautiful tradition and to preserve the Kichwa cultural heritage that we have fought for all of our lives. Thank you for visiting us and we hope you enjoy!

Where have you seen us recently?

Wisconsin Badgers logo with a stylized red W inside a shield and the word 'badger' partially visible beneath it.

2024 - Belen Picuasi was invited to teach a hat workshop for two classes of student designers at the School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin, USA

A diverse group of people, including the indigenous woman with traditional attire and hat, gather around a table in a kitchen or culinary classroom, participating in a cooking or cultural demonstration.
Group of young adults wearing light-colored wide-brimmed hats, sitting and standing outdoors on a sunny day with green trees and a blue sky in the background.
A woman in traditional Ecuador Kichwa dress and a wide-brimmed hat standing in an art gallery with woven textile art and handcrafted felt hats displayed on the walls and in a glass case.

2024 - Belen Picuasi was invited to participate in a 3 month exhibition about felt textiles at the University of Wisconsin called “Feel the Beat” in Madison, WI USA

Feel the Beat

Fashion Shows

Featured Unay Muchiku Sombreros

2024 - Indigenous Fashion Arts (IFA) Toronto, Canada

2025 - New York Fashion Week by Runway 7, New York, USA

2025 - Native Fashion Week (NFWSF) Santa Fe, NM USA

Models walking down a runway during a fashion show, wearing black and white patterned clothing and red hats, with a dark background featuring a large digital display.
Two women in stylish black and white geometric patterned clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and black ankle boots standing in a field of tall green corn plants under a blue sky with some clouds.

Runway 7

Unay Muchiku has been recognized by CIDAP (El Centro Interamericano de Artesanías y Artes Populares)  as one of Ecuador's greatest artisanal talents. CIDAP is an international institution dedicated to promoting the recognition of artisans and preserving cultural heritage. Thanks to their support, you can discover Belén Picausi's work at various festivals and exhibitions held throughout the year throughout the country.

Logo of CIDAP, the Inter-American Center for Crafts and Popular Arts, featuring a black and white design of a jug with a map of Latin America inside it.
An elderly woman wearing traditional Ecuador Kichwa dress and jewelry sits on a wooden stool, spinning wool with a spinning tool in a rustic room with a basket of raw wool in front of her.

The Complete Cultural Experience

Black and white illustration that is a logo of a cowboy hat, long braided hair, and the word 'UM' with a triangular background.

Unay Muchiku Services

Accommodation - Tours - Classes - Food - Community Volunteering - Boutique

Four women in traditional Ecuador clothing and colorful sombreros, sitting against a rustic wall.

35 years of experience in the tourism and service industry

Two downward-pointing white arrows.

Every purchase helps a Kichwa Artisan  

Two black, white, gray, and navy colored decorative pillows with geometric patterns on a wooden surface against a black background.
Pair of felt strawberry-shaped baby shoes with green leaves and white flower decorations, placed on a wooden surface.
Person holding a small brown handbag with round handles and wearing multiple coral-colored bracelets.
Textile artwork featuring four Indigenous Kichwa figures wearing hats, with tassels hanging, set against a black background.
Felt and thread decorative ornament with white balls hanging below, attached to a wooden stick against a black background.