About Us

Chiva - It's Spanish for “small goat” and Costa Rican slang for “cool”. With Costa Rican heritage in our blood, it describes us perfectly. Our wallets are cool, compact and the G.O.A.T. ;

 

Accelerate your mid life crisis

I hung up the phone. Feelings of despair and rage ripped through my veins. My thoughts were scrambled as I tried to make sense of it.

They pulled the plug, and there was nothing I could do about it. My opportunity to break out, to become financially secure, and to live the life I wanted… vanished in an instant. How could I recover from this?

My prison

Multiple monitors, a keyboard and endless spreadsheets were my prison. I woke up early, worked late, ate lunch at my desk and added a quarter inch to my waistline every couple months. I was a great employee.

I knew my place. Learn the politics, don’t embarrass or offend your superiors, blend in… check, check, check.

As I sat, my head in one hand and the other uncomfortably squeezing the phone that had delivered such devastating news, I had a moment of clarity.

I had lost control of my life. My opportunities, my success, my future - all were at the mercy of someone else who could easily wipe them away without second thought.

Gambling big

I gambled big and lost. It wasn’t money, it was much worse… my time and my life.

I lost touch with who I was. I no longer did the things that made me happy. I disliked the crowded city, the corporate bureaucracy, the late nights and work filled weekends. I disliked myself. I sacrificed the present for a false promise of the future, a future that never materialized.

My life was at the mercy of someone else, and I had to take control of it.

From that moment forward, I promised to be unapologetically me - to speak my mind and to develop the skills that brought me joy. I gave up distractions, exercised daily and focussed on my interests rather than checking boxes for the next promotion.

The joy is in the journey

In my spare time, I read books, developed my artistic talents and exercised. The chronic stress that had become a persistent feature of my existence, vanished in weeks.

I rediscovered myself, and I was becoming a better version of me everyday. My energy, my attitude and my enthusiasm soared. I accomplished more with less. I set strict work boundaries, and my performance improved.

Most importantly, I enjoyed life more than I had in a long time. Everyday was now an opportunity to be a better father, a better husband, a better athlete, a better me. I had rediscovered myself.

The more I aligned my time with who I wanted to be, the more liberated and confident I felt. I no longer stressed over my job. I enjoyed my work, and I developed new skills to open opportunities that aligned better with my passions.

 

Art over the mass produced

We live in a world of the mass produced. We drive the same cars, we live in houses with identical floorpans, we wear the same clothes. From education, work and politics to advertising, culture and style, conformity is the norm.

Most of us don’t realize we’re suffering in a self constructed cage. There is no better time to break away and embrace your uniqueness.

Building Chiva was a process of my self rediscovery. It’s only appropriate that our mission is to help you do the same. We set out to produce the most unique, functional, artistic wallets on the planet that distinguish you from the mass produced monotony. Every time you glance at your wallet, feel confident knowing it’s a one of a kind piece, just like you.