PÁRAMO & MIQUELINA: WITHOUT ONE, THERE IS NOT THE OTHER

To end 2024, we’re paying homage to our Partners at Creaciones Miquelina in Bogotá, Colombia. Páramo and the Miquelina Foundation have grown together over 30 years, providing training and employment for more than 10,000 women. Our exciting transition to 100% employee-ownership in 2022 cements this bond, securing our partnership for many more years to come…

When our founder, Nick Brown, was introduced to Sister Esther Castaño Mejia in 1992, a truly special partnership was born. Sister Esther, a nun with the Las Adoratrices order, was at the time running a sm

all sewing workshop, Creaciones Miquelina, offering practical help to vulnerable women from the streets of Bogotá. The workshop provided training and experience enabling these women to apply for jobs in other factories, although it was not a commercially viable manufacturer at this stage with twenty women working on just two second hand sewing machines.

Sister Esther needed a visionary partner willing to help her charity grow, and so the production of Nick’s directional waterproof garments began, and Páramo was officially born.

“Our partnership gives valuable opportunities to vulnerable women at risk of prostitution and drugs. To see these women thrive and, in many cases, set up their own businesses after the training we give them, is inspiring.” Mireya Castelblanco, Director of Páramo Colombia

Recent years have seen further key milestones, deepening our partnership as Páramo evolves to meet the demands of the future.

In February 2022, Nick Brown, wanting to ensure his legacy would take care of both employees and customers by balancing founding values with future development, converted the company to an Employee-Owned Trust. At the same time, Páramo integrated the management of the Miquelina factory into its business, ensuring that all the women at Miquelina also receive an equal stake in the company’s future.

 

In September 2024, our UK-based Partners and employee-ownership trustees, Tom Snee and Marika Nicholson, along with others, were thrilled to have the opportunity to visit Creaciones Miquelina and spend time with their Colombian counterpart, Liliana Poveda. In and amongst the factory tours, feasts and South American-style celebrations, Tom, Marika and Liliana spent time sharing how they represent the interests of employees on opposite sides of the world as part of the same employee-owned company.

“It was a thought provoking and invaluable trip to better understand not only cultural differences but also the significant work the Miquelina Foundation does.”

Tom Snee, Director of Sales and Business Development and Employee-Ownership Trustee

In November 2024, we were honoured to welcome our Colombian Partner, Claudia Patricia Nova, to the UK to join us at the Employee Ownership Association annual conference in Telford, Shropshire. Sharing the stage with our CEO, Richard Pyne, Claudia spoke movingly of her life experiences before Páramo and Miquelina, and about how our partnership has positively impacted her life both before and after employee-ownership.

The challenges facing women in Colombia are great due to the country’s ongoing civil war, with many of them battling displacement and poverty and being forced into prostitution to earn a living. Working at Miquelina and becoming a Partner in our business provides a fortunate few with fresh hope, stability and practical support. From a regular income to access to benefits to having a voice in how the company is run, employee-ownership has helped turn around the life of Claudia, and thousands of others.

“We had the incredible opportunity to share the story of Páramo and Miquelina’s partnership at the eoa annual conference and were honoured to be joined by one of our Colombian Partners, Claudia, who gave an emotional account of her life story. We were extremely proud to be able to demonstrate just how far the positive impact of employee-ownership can reach” Nick Doyle, Director of Change

 

Our keynote speech at the event received a phenomenal response and it is available to watch now online. We implore you to find 42 minutes to watch it and hear from Claudia yourself. Páramo is proof that businesses can grow sustainably whilst making a positive social impact and we are rightly proud of the remarkable journey we have been on with Miquelina, and the future ahead of us.

paramo-clothing.com