Those of us who know some of the history of Salinas in the Bolívar province know that the laboratory of experiments took place on the ground floor of Padre Antonio Polo's house, also known as the Convent. Many of the things that were tested there, are now representative of community companies.

Due to the location and soil conditions, not everyone could join the ranching and production of milk and cheeses that, little by little, were taking hold in Salinas. Other support alternatives had to be sought for the peasants in the highlands or páramo, most of whom had one or two little sheep. Something had to be done.

Thus, in 1974, large cement tanks were set up in the Convent for washing wool, where it was common to see women with their bare feet stepping on wool in cold water with detergent. As you will understand, the temperature of the water at 3,500 meters above sea level is not a wonder, but I still remember those women, full of joy, making part of that new dream.

Who would say that the first steps of two community companies that are still active today would take place in those walls: the TEXAL Salinas Artisan Social Development Association and the Salinas Intercommunal Hilandería?

Initially, the idea was to buy sheep wool from the peasants of the upper communities of the Salinas parish to wash it and sell it at a better price. This initiative was not successful.

They tried another way, they bought wool spun by hand to make rustic blankets that were sold in the national market. Volunteers from that time trained several women from the town.

Later, they bought suede looms that were handled by 5 young people from the town, thus turning the ground floor of the Convent into a weaving workshop and shop. They improved the quality of the products when they began to work with yarn purchased in the city of Ambato. With these results they decided to go a little further, and analyze options to produce their own yarn.

The search for external support and the community's own contribution began. Projects were proposed and the results came from the hands of NGOs and friends. Sheds began to be built ...

There was indeed skepticism that a project of this magnitude would work in a town, where the peasants would move from working the land and animals, to operating machines and learning to manage small entrepreneurships. Nevertheless, nothing could defeat trust and faith.

All those threads moving around in the air, made other opportunities arise. Texal was strengthened in the parish center and women from various communities created the womencenters, to work in their own meeting place as an alternative to generate their own revenues.

Having this community organization as a base, the women artisans began to make hand-woven garments, the same ones that were initially exported to Italy, where good friends of Father Antonio Polo sold them at solidarity fairs. As time passed by and the quality improved, the production began to be exported to fair trade chains.

Meanwhile, at the fledgling spinning mill, machinery is installed, tests are run, technicians arrive to train local people, and the machine spinning adventure begins.

The threads of natural sheep colors were followed by the threads of alpaca and llama, dyed with natural products and procedures, thus giving variety and better options for women to give color and creativity to their designs.

The Salinas Hilandería, located in a small town in the Ecuadorian Andes, became the largest factory in the Bolívar province, with 60 people in its work team including workers, technicians, administrators and salesmen who worked in three shifts, the 24 hours and 7 days a week.

Despite the economic crises and crisis in the textile sector that was and is frequent in the country, the factory continues to operate, and currently maintains links with peasant and indigenous organizations that collect sheep wool in the provinces of Cotopaxi, Tungurahua and Chimborazo.

The yarns and garments made by hand with the Salinerito brand, continue to weave hope and shelter for many people.