“Meraki:  to do something with soul, creativity, or love. To put something of yourself into your work.”

The Garayalde line was originally inspired by the organic modernist movement, and the handmade belt buckles designed in Mexico by Chantel’s aunt in the late 70’s and early 80’s. With a background in both interior and jewelry design, Chantel envisioned the molten embellishments as small works of art, bridging the gap between form and function. With an eye towards simplicity, longevity and quality, the brand is informed by the highest standards in craftsmanship.   

All Garayalde leather goods are made of the finest quality vegetable died hides, each hand selected for their beauty and individual character.  No two pieces are ever exactly the same, and over time, they only become more beautiful with use.  These are pieces carried by those who wish to own something apart from the rest and are fascinated by nature’s raw forms. 

The pieces are all sewn by hand, in California, and each one is lovingly brought to life by multiple artists, working together and all contributing their best to the end result: a future heirloom.

Many of our pieces would work well on women or men and we have looked to develop styles that can be functional in a number of settings and appeal to a broad range of our customer’s needs.

“Courage: comes from the Latin, “Cor”, or to tell your story of your life with your whole heart."

The Garayalde signature anatomical heart logo was conceived by Chantel and created by a master jeweler of the highest caliber. The heart sets the tone for our creations with a solid nod to that which is authentic. The heart truly represents the intention behind the brand; not life in the abstract, but rather, the essence of the life force. This heart, this line, is the real thing.  Clean lines, raw edges, no apologies, just durable, beautiful quality hides, and artisanal workmanship that will, just like our hearts, age with time and eventually tell a story of a life well lived. These pieces are representative of the actual beauty of life in it’s raw form, imperfect, yet all the more valuable for their individuality.