Meet Ashley Shoshan of Seiba in San Fernando Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Shoshan.

Ashley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been interested in learning about the world and exploring its far reaches. I am a child of a multi-cultured family: the Middle East meets the Midwest, and have always had a fondness for learning about different ways of life. I spent much of my college years in study abroad programs. I enrolled in courses and volunteer programs in both China and Australia and created a social start-up with my peers to help women in Bangladesh. After college, I went on a backpacking trip through Mexico and down to South America.

Along the way, I came across a stunningly intricate and vibrant weave. I purchased the weave and wore it primarily as a belt. I started receiving compliments and questions, and I quickly realized that I wasn’t alone in admiring this unique product. I needed to know more about the story behind the weave and spoke with locals and artisans and eventually traced it back to Chiapas. It was there that I discovered much more than a stylish product. It becomes apparent very quickly how much could and should be done with this beautiful weave.

Seiba was and continues to be inspired by the Chamula of Chiapas and their ancient mythology. Their stories are so courageous and powerful. They truly affect you when you listen to them.

As I explored the community I learned that despite the beauty and quality of their artwork, they lacked resources for selling it. Many artisans were forced to leave their communities to sell their crafts in the surrounding towns and cities. Others are forced to fend for themselves in the busy cities in hopes of finding a way to bring money back to their families. I was saddened to see how poverty and modernization can erode their sacred traditions and break apart families.

I believed their weave was so detailed and beautiful that it would be loved by many if only it could be seen. However, at the same time, I wanted to protect the sanctity of their villages and allow them to remain with their families. I believed that if I could build their branches to the greater world, the artisans could continue to live in their communities. I wanted to do everything I could to help preserve their culture while bringing in more dependable revenue streams. And the rest is history!

How we got to where we are today:
We have worked hard, stayed determined and have been dedicated. We have created a brand that focuses on quality, style, and comfort. We have been doing our line of dog collars for almost 4 years now and it’s truly amazing to see how far we have come.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been an off-road kind of journey, but as someone who enjoys exploring new situations, bumps and unpredictability are expected and endured.

In the beginning, language and building trust were the primary challenges. Overcoming language barriers is definitely an obstacle, especially when communication undergoes multiple translations: Tzotzil, (a Mayan dialect) to Spanish to English and back again. There is no doubt that parts of the message can be lost in translation.

The native tongue, Tzotzil, is only recognized and spoken within their communities, and most of the elders only speak Tzotzil. Luckily, there are a few artisans who speak both Tzotzil and Spanish, and they are able to help with the translations.

It’s amazing to see that even with language barriers, you can still connect on a personal level just by spending time with each other, sharing different cultural practices, showing respect, and making each other laugh. I made some of my first friendships and connections by playing dress-up with the children, goofing around, and letting them braid my hair. Laughter and smiles are truly universal. With this connection, we are able to form the foundations of trust which we continue to build over time.

The family of artisans we work with face a range of health issues so it’s an ongoing challenge that always needs more resources. Our main support focus in the last few years has been on health-related issues.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Seiba story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in creating handmade artisan goods that tell a story and reflect ethical business practices. Each Seiba piece is uniquely crafted using the highest quality of materials. We are most known for our collection of dog collars and leashes that come with a matching bracelet for the owner.

The products feature vibrant weaves which are handwoven by our family of artisans in Chiapas and then built into one-of-a-kind collars and leashes locally in Los Angeles. We use old-school craftsmanship techniques to build durable, comfortable, and fashionable luxury goods.

We initially started as a fashion accessories brand with bracelets, belts, purse, camera, and guitar straps, and have since crafted specialty items such as equine products and messenger bags.

Seiba, just like the Yaaxché or Ceiba tree, is a name for the ancient Mayans’ sacred tree of life, which connected all people and planes of existence. We strive to model ourselves after the Ceiba tree. The Chamula of Chiapas, the artisans, are the seeds, roots, and core of Seiba, while the rest of the company functions as the branches connecting the artisans to the greater world.

What we are most proud of:
Seeing our relationships grow and becoming a stronger family over the years has been very rewarding. The trust and team we have built inspire me everyday. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like, or what language you speak. As long as you have good intentions, listen and build trust, you can become family. We truly believe in each other and we are all in this together.

People say it’s not good to be emotionally invested in the business, but I feel that’s what keeps our team going on every level. We are in this for a lifetime and it’s bigger than me; it’s a family we have created and together we make Seiba grow. In terms of more tangible impacts, Cristi, a lead artisan, has been able to open up her own storefront in the market in town. She had always wanted to be a business owner, and we are so happy to see her accomplish her dream.

Rossalba, my product manager and dear friend, has been able to attend school while managing to take care of her sweet daughter as a single mother. She’s one of my biggest inspirations and has been by my side since the very beginning of Seiba. Finally, whenever I see a pup wearing a Seiba collar. It really makes the entire process feel full circle.

What sets us apart:
We stay true to our core roots of creating ethical and sustainable production at every level of our business. We create a product that is stylish, builds upon different cultural traditions and is made to last. We share the story of the artisans and craftspeople behind the product, so the end consumer knows exactly where the product came from and how it was made.

We are a small team but we are dedicated and righteous. We listen and learn. The women we work with are independent business women on their own. We are there to build a business that works for them as well as the US-based crafters and everyone else involved.

In terms of our business practices, we use fair prices and provide consistent orders which create dependable income streams. We also help with basic infrastructure and healthcare issues by providing needed medicines and assistance where we can.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Life and business really is a rollercoaster filled with unpredictable highs and lows. Of course, you can’t get to the highs without the lows.

I’m lucky to have a supportive mom who believed in me and instilled good values through my childhood. Building a business from scratch is incredibly stressful and emotionally draining, and I am very lucky to have her and my husband in my corner rooting me on.

In terms of the business, some of my memorable moments include: coming across the original weave, as well as being featured in LA Magazine’s Best of LA, which turned out to be great exposure for our pet collection. I have also had a lot of good luck with meeting the right people who have helped me along the way. That being said, I also have run into the wrong people.

At the end of the day, it’s up to us to continue to do our best. As long as we keep innovating, designing, and doing the right thing, I have faith that it will all work out in the end.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least about our city?
I grew up here, so LA will always hold a special place in my heart. Of course, there is the wonderful food, art, music, and culture here, but I most love the beaches of Malibu and hiking the Santa Monica Mountains. I’m a big ocean enthusiast as well.

Traffic and the distances between cool pockets of the city, mean it can be tough to break out of your local bubble and take advantage of everything the city has to offer.

Pricing:

• $75- Handcrafted Overlay XS, S, M
• $110- Handcrafted Inlay L and XL
• $130- Handwoven Collar
• $120- Handcrafted Leash

Contact Info:

• Website: www.weareseiba.com
• Phone: 8184518984
• Email: ashley@weareseiba.com

Image Credit:
Rossalba Martínez

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