This story started two years ago in 2012 when I returned from Barcelona – Spain, where I lived for twelve years and where I had the opportunity to study two master degrees.
On my return to Ecuador, and with the idea of finding my city’s roots, I started the search to generate my own project. The idea to make a shoe was first born out of a design responding to my personal need and for my personal use. The idea was to craft a shoe entirely by hand. This personal project has eventually evolved and has raised interest of many people.

I began moving slowly with the project with the goal to offer a quality product with identity, a concept, a BRAND.

The first step was the creation of the brand, search for a name, and the identity. Thus the birth of SPUACH which joins the letter S of Santiago (my name) and PUACH, the word for frog in the Ecuadorian indigenous Achuar language.
During the search for the brand name I got in contact with my amphibian biologist friends, this allowed me to dig into the extraordinary world and know the importance of these small animals in our planet’s ecosystem.

The image of the brand took as reference an endemic frog that exists only in the province of Azuay – Ecuador, the Artelopus Balius, belonging to the so called Harlequin frogs, a highly endangered species.

With the brand ready I began developing the first product focused on sandals. I started out from a typical garment of Ecuadorian Indigenous Otavaleña culture, the alpargata (espadrille). Spuach designs focused on its form with a modern reinterpretation.

Another feature where I focused for the design were the soles, I wanted to give a stronger identity to the product. Two types of unique brand rubber soles were designed, one dedicated to the Galapagos Islands with special reference to Lonesome George and the other dedicated to UNESCO declared Ecuadorian World Biosphere Reserves.

The project has been recognized with two awards and is further supported by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Culture. Other ministries and private companies are also looking to join as the brand has environmental responsibility, specifically support for amphibian research and protection.

The concept of creating the SPUACH brand is to provide more than just a shoe design, it is to offer more products like clothing, jewelry and accessories focused on the same ideology.

“SPUACH …You trace your own destiny”.