Elixir

Fabian Lliguin, the founder of Rahua, is a renowned hair stylist and environmentalist from New York City. He is of Ecuadorian descent, specifically tracing his roots back to the Quechua tribe. In the 1990s, he visited the Amazon rainforest to learn about the land and human rights of the indigenous people; during this time, he noticed the women there with their fantastically long, shiny hair. The women shared their secret with Fabian: Rahua oil. For centuries, members of the tribe living deep in the rainforest have used this oil to care for their skin and hair. Fabian was given a bottle of the precious oil, which he carefully transported in his suitcase to New York. In his salon on Fifth Avenue, he decided—as an experiment and without expectations—to use the oil as a treatment for a client with extremely dry, damaged hair. After 10 minutes of application, her hair was completely transformed: from brittle and lifeless to healthy and shiny. Fabian was as shocked as his client. Here was the proof that this ingredient, used for centuries, achieved incredible results. The hair stylist knew he held something very special in his hands, and he also knew he had to treat it with respect. Rahua oil has been and is harvested by the Quechua-Shuar tribe for generations in the same complex, ritualistic, and sustainable manner. Fabian, who as an environmentalist had already been supporting the indigenous people of the rainforest for some time, did not want to destroy this valuable process. Together with his wife Anna Ayers, a fashion designer, he launched the brand Rahua in 2008. In doing so, he drew on the wisdom of a legendary people to formulate a unique line of innovative plant-based products that heal, nourish, beautify, and transform. Today, more than 500 families from the Quechua-Shuar, Achuar, and neighbouring tribes work with Fabian and Anna on a fair and friendly basis to cultivate the rainforest ingredients used in Rahua's hair and body care collections in a traditional way. In this process, Rahua created the "Symbiotic" project, which goes beyond ecological and fair trade. This means that ingredients are wild-harvested (not farmed) in the pristine rainforest, processed by hand, and the inhabitants of the Amazon receive a price for the harvest that is above fair trade. This strengthens the economic position of the indigenous population. In this way, Rahua has helped them create a healthy, self-sufficient economic situation that encourages them to continue living in the Amazon, where they can maintain their special traditions and ultimately serve as guardians and protectors of the rainforest.