About us
KrisMarce is a purpose-driven luxury brand rooted in the heart of Colombia’s Pacific Region. We work hand in hand with local artisans, tribal leaders, and community elders to create refined, culturally rich designs that honor the deep ancestry of the region. Each piece we produce is a luxurious symbol of tradition, identity, and resilience.
Our collections are inspired
by the stories, techniques, and spirit of the Pacific—offering the world a glimpse into a region often left on the margins. By sharing this heritage through globally accessible products, we bring visibility and opportunity to communities that have long been underrepresented.
Our Mission
To elevate the voices, artistry, and culture of Colombia’s Pacific Region—merging ancestral craftsmanship with modern luxury, while creating meaningful economic and social impact.
Kristie
FOUNDER
Kristie M.R. Ayala proudly hails from Quibdó, Chocó, in Colombia’s vibrant Pacific Region. She stands as a powerful example of what can happen when opportunity meets preparation and purpose. Her personal journey—marked by resilience, ambition, and a deep love for her roots—inspired the creation of KrisMarce.
Driven by a desire to merge her professional expertise with her passion for community impact, Kristie founded KrisMarce as a way to give back to the region that shaped her. What began as a vision to uplift her hometown has grown into a platform for empowerment, opportunity, and cultural pride.
To learn more about Kristie’s story and the journey behind KrisMarce, visit our About page
Kristie
FOUNDER
Kristie M.R. Ayala proudly hails from Quibdó, Chocó, in Colombia’s vibrant Pacific Region. She stands as a powerful example of what can happen when opportunity meets preparation and purpose. Her personal journey—marked by resilience, ambition, and a deep love for her roots—inspired the creation of KrisMarce.
Driven by a desire to merge her professional expertise with her passion for community impact, Kristie founded KrisMarce as a way to give back to the region that shaped her. What began as a vision to uplift her hometown has grown into a platform for empowerment, opportunity, and cultural pride.
To learn more about Kristie’s story and the journey behind KrisMarce, visit our About page
Francisco
Managing Partner
Francisco J. Leija hails from Los Angeles, California, in the United States. He also stands as a powerful example of what can happen when opportunity meets preparation and purpose. His personal journey—marked by resilience, adaptation, and duty for his country—enables him to pursue impactful causes and ventures throughout LATAM.
As a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former White House Fellow, he brings decades of leadership experience in national security, higher education, and entrepreneurship. Today, he manages multi-sector portfolios spanning corporate governance, early-stage ventures, and institutional transformation—providing strategic direction to fuel KrisMarce’s growth and global reach.
Join the KrisMarce Founder’s Circle
“Where Rarity Becomes Legacy.”
A circle reserved for those who do not simply wear KrisMarce, but for those who carry its story, protect its lineage, and stand as stewards of purposeful elegance. Here, luxury becomes personal. Members enjoy privileged access to limited releases, private previews, and a direct connection to the women artisans whose generational artistry brings each design to life.
More than exclusivity, this is a commitment to social impact, by championing education, opportunity, and dignity across the communities that shape our story.
This is not just membership; it is meaningful luxury. An inner circle for those who know that craftsmanship can uplift, empower, and transcend. Welcome to the Founder’s Circle.
Our Community Impact
With every product we share with the world, we carry a message of pride, resilience, and purpose. KrisMarce stands as a bridge—connecting the extraordinary spirit of Colombia’s Pacific Region with a global community that values craftsmanship, culture, and conscious luxury.
KrisMarce doesn’t just tell the story of the Pacific Region—we actively shape its future. Through strategic collaborations and reinvestment, we support longterm, community-driven development.
NGO Partnerships
We collaborate with nonprofit organizations to promote sustainable development, gender equity, and cultural preservation.
Educational Initiatives
We partner with schools and institutions to provide training, skill-building, and development programs tailored to the region’s needs.
Cultural & Environmental Stewardship
We work with researchers and environmental groups to protect marine ecosystems and preserve the cultural identity of the Pacific coast.
Our Values
Empowering the Next Generation
We are committed to uplifting the youth of the Pacific Region through education, opportunity, and mentorship.
Supporting Women Artisans
We train and employ women in the region, promoting economic independence and leadership within their communities.
Preserving Ancestral Techniques
We rescue time-honored artisanal practices and bring them into the global luxury market—celebrating heritage with authenticity.
Fostering Fair Trade
We ensure ethical practices by providing safe working conditions, fair wages, and long-term support to our artisan partners.
Driving Social Change
Through youth programs and community projects, we invest in creating a better future for the Pacific Region.
Artisans
For generations, the Indigenous and Afro-Colombian artisans of Colombia’s Pacific Region have preserved one of the country’s richest cultural lineages, weaving their history, identity, and connection to the land into every handcrafted piece. Their artistry is born from a deep relationship with the rainforest and its rivers, where natural fibers, woods, and plant-based dyes are transformed through ancestral techniques passed down from parents to children. These artisans create work that is soulful, imbued with rhythm, and symbolism. Today, they stand as guardians of a heritage that blends Indigenous knowledge with Afro-Colombian creativity.
KrisMarce is deeply committed to empowering the women artisans of Colombia’s Pacific region. Many of these women are heads of household and the primary providers for their families. By partnering exclusively with these skilled craftswomen, the brand ensures that every creation directly supports dignified, steady income and long-term economic stability within their communities. This collaboration extends far beyond craftsmanship: it strengthens the social fabric of the Pacific by enabling mothers to provide education, nourishment, and new opportunities for the next generation of children. Each KrisMarce piece becomes a symbol of resilience and legacy.
Materials
KrisMarce pieces are crafted with the best Colombian full-grain leathers which are known for their depth, durability, and the elegance they gain as the leathers age. Our leathers are paired with organic materials native to the Pacific’s extraordinary biodiversity to create unique and authenticity luxury combinations. Each material is carefully chosen for its quality, minimal environmental footprint, and ability to elevate a design without overstating it. An example of this can be found in our Eternal Forest Collection which is paired with ancestral fique fiber, harvested and woven by master artisans from Colombia’s Pacific regions. Fique is renowned for its strength, lightness, and connection to sustainable cultural traditions.
For our customers, true sophistication is found in the integrity of materials, the precision of hand-made products, the honesty of natural fibers, and the cultural stories woven into each piece. Our clients value substance over spectacle, craft over status signaling, and enduring quality over excess. They appreciate brands that invest in superior raw materials and meticulous artisanship without relying on oversized logos or inflated prices to convey worth. Each KrisMarce piece embodies understated exclusivity: a companion crafted to last, rooted in nature and tradition, and designed for those who seek meaning, intention, and timeless refinement in the objects they choose to carry.