Our Story
Crafted with Purpose. Designed to Transform.
We don’t just design objects —
we design opportunities
Every piece is a story of transformation. Behind each product, there is a woman reclaiming her future, a community rediscovering its strength, and a world moving one step closer to balance - between nature, tradition, and innovation.
Our journey has been one of purpose, courage, and beauty. Here's how far we've come - and where we're headed.
Founded in 2013 by Salvadoran designer Lula Mena, our brand was born from the conviction that design can be a tool for social change. This vision is guided by five core principles that define who we are and what we create. We design with respect for the environment, using natural or repurposed materials like copper wire, fish scales, and recycled rubber. Every piece is handmade, preserving ancestral techniques and celebrating uniqueness. We empower women in rural communities through training and fair, dignified work—because when a woman thrives, her whole community grows. We follow fair trade standards to ensure ethical practices and just compensation. And we innovate constantly, transforming tradition into contemporary, meaningful design. These principles are the heart of our impact—locally and globally.
Lula’s work has been showcased at the Emmy and Pre-Oscar Gifting Suites in Hollywood, capturing global attention. Her designs began to reach boutiques across the United States, Canada, and Dubai, and soon after she was named “Woman Exporter of the Year” by COEXPORT.Between 2015 and 2016, Lula's creations traveled even further, appearing in the Grammy and Oscar Gifting Suites and entering stores in Japan, Dubai, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, and the Virgin Islands. Her innovative use of repurposed copper wire from uninstalled energy meters led to the creation of the Sustainable Style collection, a finalist in “Bienal Iberoamericana de diseño”. During this time, Lula began pioneering Corporate Social Responsibility projects with companies like DELSUR and Sigma Q, weaving discarded copper wires and leather remnants into meaningful new designs.
In 2017, Lula joined Fortune Magazine’s Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, receiving mentorship from female leaders of Fortune 500 companies. That same year, she launched Waves of Hope, a violence-prevention project in La Libertad developed in partnership with USAID, SolucionES, and DELSUR. Her designs began to grace boutique hotels like the Fairfield Marriott, Crowne Plaza, Cardedeu, Wave House and Puro Surf, combining luxury with cultural heritage. That year, she also received awards from Rotary Club, Banco Industrial, and was featured in the book Committed to Sustainability by Banco Agrícola.
In 2019, Lula presented Nidos de Lula Mena, her first solo art exhibition at the Museum of Art of El Salvador, which became the most visited in the museum’s history. That same year, she was honored in England with the Dahrendorf Responsible Capitalism Award, presented by Princess Anne.
Also, Lula was named one of Forbes’ “30 Promises of Business” and selected for the Central America Leadership Initiative (CALI).
2020 marked her invitation to the ARTISAN program by the Nest Organization, an ethical handcraft certification body. That same year, Lula represented El Salvador in the Dubai Expo 2020 as part of El Salvador national pavilion. Her sculptural textile nests were gifted to visitors as symbols of Salvadoran culture—handmade representations of heritage, resilience, and artistry.
In 2021, Lula established the Lula Mena Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on the holistic development of vulnerable communities in El Salvador. The foundation promotes education, preserves traditional craftsmanship, and empowers women and children through creativity and sustainable opportunities. That year, Lula also participated in the ISA World Surfing Games and Expo Dubai 2021, where her work continued to elevate El Salvador on the global stage. She became a board member of Vital Voices El Salvador, deepening her commitment to female leadership.In 2022, Lula earned the prestigious Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft, validating her practices as socially and environmentally responsible. She was also chosen to participate in the Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID) in Madrid. For the first time in BID history, El Salvador was invited to a special exhibition at Casa de América. Two of Lula’s large-scale textile artworks from Nidos were selected as the country’s representatives—woven with traditional looms and embedded with natural, reused, and discarded materials like wicker, fish scales, recycled copper, and salvaged wood.

That same year, Lula was commissioned by Warner Bros to design a jewelry collection inspired by Wonder Woman—each bracelet representing the virtues of power, courage, and wonder. Made with recycled tire rubber, crystals, and copper wire, the collection empowered both its wearers and the women artisans behind them.
In 2023, Lula expanded her design offerings, creating custom collections for boutique hotels and interior designers across Central America, including Vahaus. Through the support of the Ram Ibu Foundation, she introduced a new line of ceramics—marking the beginning of a fresh chapter in artisan collaboration and creative exploration. That same year, Lula partnered once again with DELSUR to repurpose over 1,000 outdated electric meters, continuing the brand’s commitment to sustainability and social innovation.
As we move through 2024 and into 2025, our story continues to grow. Every piece we create is rooted in tradition, crafted by hand, and driven by purpose. We remain committed to fair trade, environmental sustainability, and the transformative power of art and design.