Ambassador of the art and
culture of Chordeleg
María Pepita is a window into the art and artisanal tradition of Chordeleg. Through the emblematic filigree technique and other expressions of handmade work, we honor the talent of local artisans, giving them the place and recognition they deserve as the true protagonists of every creation.
A life woven between silver threads and tradition
María José Galarza was born at the heart of a family deeply connected to craftsmanship: with a jeweler father, an embroiderer mother, and grandparents devoted to filigree and weaving. She grew up surrounded by history and antique pieces in her father’s museum, which awakened in her a special sensitivity for design.
At 15, she began creating her own designs and, in 2009, officially founded María Pepita.
Today, more than a designer, she is a committed ambassador dedicated to dignifying artisans and showcasing Ecuadorian culture to the world.
Our Identity
Mission
To preserve and elevate the ancestral art of Chordeleg filigree, creating exclusive handmade pieces that fuse tradition and identity with contemporary design, under fair-trade practices
Vision
To be a national and international benchmark for Ecuadorian artisanal jewelry, positioning the brand as a symbol of excellence and cultural pride, without ever losing the human value that defines us
True luxury lies in the hands that create
Master Artisans
We work with master artisans with extensive experience, many of whom come from families with more than three generations in the craft. Our team includes specialists in fine filigree, crown assembly, stone setting, and artisanal polishing.
Melida Cecibel Cabrera
Since I was 19, the art of jewelry-making awakened in my hands under the guidance of Master Jorge Lituma. Since then, filigree has become my language and my destiny.
Being an artisan is listening to the voice of our roots and weaving it into the present.
In every silver thread beats my patience, my dedication, and my love for a tradition that lives and breathes through my hands.
I do not only create jewelry: I weave stories, memory, and pride into every piece born of fire and heart.
Luis Gonzalo Villa Juela
I began in jewelry-making at 13, training alongside Master Miguel Espinoza Naranjo and refining my craft for years in the workshops of Santiago Reiban and Nelson Vázquez López.
Today, in my own workshop, I continue this legacy with gratitude and courage, driven by designer María José Galarza’s trust in me when I first started out on my own.
Being an artisan is transforming raw material with creativity, patience, and love, to turn it into a jewel that brings happiness to the person who receives it.
Eloy Antonio Cárdenas Cabrera
I began my journey in jewelry-making at 20, and at 25 I discovered in filigree an art that shaped my destiny. I learned from my brother-in-law, whose teaching lives on today in every metal thread I weave.
Being an artisan is carrying thoughts in your hands and turning them into unique pieces. It is shaping metal with patience, passion, and respect for handmade work.
As long as life allows my skill, I will continue creating exclusive jewelry, proud to share this craft and to see our works travel the world as a testament to 100% artisanal work.
Ángel Rodolfo Molina Ruiz
I began my path in jewelry-making, in the filigree technique, at 18 years of age, under the instruction of artisan Junior Jara, who passed on to me the foundations of this noble art.
For me, being a filigree artisan is a gift God placed in my hands. It is a vocation that demands infinite patience, good eyesight, and constant creativity to bring to life pieces such as rings, earrings, and crowns, each crafted with dedication and detail.
I carry passion in my heart, inspiration in my mind, and art in my hands. Through every creation, I convey who I am, transforming metal into a living expression that travels the world as a testament to our artisanal pride.
Brand milestones
Years
of experience in the jewelry sector
Crowns
designed for national and international pageants (Reina de Cuenca, Miss Latina USA, among others)
Impact
Presence at 2 Ecuador Fashion Week runways and at Moda Caracas, Venezuela
Creators
of the crown "Buganvillas de Fe", exhibited at the Municipal Museum of Chordeleg.
María Pepita is a registered trademark with SENADI, a member of the Cuenca Chamber of Commerce, and is endorsed by the quality seal “Mucho Mejor Ecuador”.
All our pieces include a one-year warranty for repairs, reaffirming our commitment to excellence
Hands That Nourish
At María Pepita, we believe art has a responsibility to its community.
That is why we are building Hands That Nourish, a social initiative that grows alongside our brand.
Through this program, we allocate a portion of our sales to support school meals for children in vulnerable situations and, in the future, to promote workshops that pass on the art of Chordeleg filigree to new generations.
Our social commitment begins with fair pay for artisans and extends to actions that strengthen education, culture, and the future.
Each piece of jewelry is one more step toward that purpose.