Griffin Thall and Paul Goodman are the founders of the bracelet and jewelry company, Pura Vida. Pura Vida was started when Thall and Goodman visited Costa Rica in 2010 while they were both still college students. While there, they fell in love with the place, the colors, and the easy going lifestyle that was common in Costa Rica. They met two people who were making bracelets on the streets. Thall and Goodman were distraught when they found out that these two people, while making and selling beautiful bracelets, were struggling to survive and support their families. Wanting to find a way to help, they ordered 400 bracelets and brought them back to San Diego, where they proceeded to sell them all in one small shop within a few days.
Determined to continue to make a difference, Thall and Goodman started the Pura Vida company, which means “pure life”. The brand is meant to represent the little things in life and slowing down to live life to the fullest. Pura Vida is now working with numerous artisans in Costa Rica, selling the handmade bracelets in hundreds of color combinations, all around the world. They are currently working with over 800 artisans in Costa Rica, as well as in El Salvador, and India, giving the artisans an opportunity to generate a steady and stable income to support themselves and their families.
The simple action of seeing the struggle of bracelet makers in Costa Rica gave Thall and Goodman the idea to create a company and a movement to help not only the people they met on their trip, but others with similar stories, by giving them an outlet to reach a greater market with their bracelets. This simple idea of wax coated string bracelets has now turned into a company that sells millions of bracelets world wide every year, while supporting artisans who would not otherwise be able to have that type of reach.
This is a great idea to incorporate different cultures into our lives. Using their own experience and creating it into a business. The idea of creating a business that helps other with the simple pleasures in life is the way to go. You’re doing something good for other people and at the same time making a life out of it.
I’ve seen pura vida bracelets everywhere, but I wasn’t aware of the social impact this company was having! It’s incredible that they are able to use such a simple model to help people in a dramatic way. Supporting the arts, helping people in need, and making shoppers happpy with the little things in life all at once!
I love Pura Vida bracelets, and I knew that the company helped artisans of Costa Rica, but I didn’t know that it was two college boys who realized recognized this need and created a solution for it. I also really like how the brand focuses on the little things and the name of the company literally translates to “pure life.” This company’s products are great, but the story behind the entire company is even better.
This is a great company with a great purpose. I love this brand, and I frequently purchase bundles of bracelets. Not only is it a great cause to support a country they love, but they also produce a great product. It was so interesting to learn that the idea came from their own personal visit to Costa Rica. Hearing their story made me love the brand even more. I think that proves they are successful with content marketing because they have a story that they share well.
It’s so awesome to see how these guys were able to take something they were passionate about and turn it into a front-runner in the social entrepreneurship space. The bracelets are so cute, and the brand they’ve built is arguably one of the best in the accessory industry. Pura Vida has found a way to cohesively mix philanthropy and commerce which is so cool to see!
I am a big fan of Pura Vida! Not just because what they sell, but because the cause behind it is a good one. It was so interesting to learn that the idea came from their own personal visit to Costa Rica.