Santiago Chavez is the founder, designer, and sole artisan of Cueros del Sol bags and accessories.

Santiago grew up in Baños de Agua Santa, a town nestled between the Andes mountains and the steamy rain forests of Ecuador. He first experimented with leather in high school, where he devised a plan to pay for a beach trip by selling handmade bracelets to his classmates. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to open his own store, the Batik Shop, only months after graduating from high school.

In the Batik Shop, Santiago's passion for working with leather flourished. Inspired by the eruption of the Tungurahua Volcano and the repeated evacuations of his hometown, his design concepts evolved to address more profound themes like creation from destruction. He sought recycled metals, rough leather, and antiques to incorporate into his creations. He experimented with metalworking and paints to ensure that every part of every bag is completely handmade, including the buckles and colors.

In 2009, Santiago brought his line to the San Francisco Bay Area. Every Cueros del Sol bag or accessory is designed and handmade by Santiago. Every piece is unique, and the same design is never recycled. Each Cueros del Sol piece is strong but graceful, conjuring up images of his native Ecuador, a land of extremes.