Honoring a Legacy: Our First Impact Mission Begins 🌿

Hey friends,

When I first traveled to the Peruvian Amazon in 2022, I didn’t know it would change the course of my life.

»ICYMI: Founder Backstory Pt. 3: Becoming the Medicine: Herbs, Healing & Frogs«

Having just spent the first part of my trip with the Matsés people, things were already shifting within me. Time slowed down. The days felt longer. Instead of staring at spreadsheets or writing emails, our group attuned to the symphony of birdsong from the jungle canopies all day, a sound replaced by the hum of bugs and frogs as the sun set. I had learned so much about these Panoan-speaking peoples and their relationship to medicines like Kambô (the Matsés call Acaté), Sananga (bëchëte, in Matsés, Tabernaemontana undulata in Latin), and Rapeh (nënë). Sent off with an open invitation to return, our group set out for Iquitos to wash clothes and rest before the next part of our journey.

For the second part of our trek, we arrived at Ecomunidad Nativa Kambo Family, a small but powerful healing center tucked into the Napo River Valley of the Loreto region. This involved taking multiple boats (some of questionable buoyancy), mototaxis, interrogation from local authorities, and a decently long hike to get there.

Our group answered an invitation from a legendary Maestro who was willing to share his knowledge with those who would make the journey to him. Here we met Jhonny Javá—medicine man, father, teacher. It felt like meeting a long-lost older brother, connected in Spirit despite our cultural differences. His presence, marked by his million-dollar smile, was humble, radiant, and deeply rooted in his traditions and the lands he inhabited. His baritone voice was welcoming and celebrated the reality that through a shared common interest and love of Kambô, Pachamama - whom I call Gaia - had brought us together. The days spent on their land were sacred, humbling, and transformative.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Earth Medicine Apparel Co. was born from that experience. The frog was stirring in me a realization that through artistic representation of Earth Medicines, I might have a chance to weave community and cultivate networks of support. The way Jhonny loved the frogs and the jungle, the way Uli shared her love and medicine through the incredible meals she harvested and cooked on site, the playful curiosity of their children, the companionship of their dogs, and the presence of Malu the Scarlet Macaw…my heart was bursting.

In the two-and-a-half years since, I’ve stayed in close contact with Jhonny’s family—especially his widow, Uli, and their children. When I first dreamed this brand into reality, I sent a letter to ask Uli for permission to use an image of Jhonny for my centerpiece design, “Maestro Kambô.” She responded with a warm, enthusiastic yes, and from that moment forward, we’ve worked together in full alignment—building a bridge between my art, your support, and their vision.

Now, as I prepare to launch my first line of shirts, I want to share our first impact mission.

Since Maestro Jhonny’s passing in 2024, the healing center has seen difficult times. Without his presence, much of the infrastructure—the maloca, shared kitchen, and sacred ceremony spaces—has fallen into disrepair. But Uli and her children are determined to continue his work and open the space once more to seekers from around the world.

Uli asked for our help to rebuild, while collaborating on sharing the legacy of her late husband with a wider audience.

🌱 Our goal is to raise $5,000 in profits from this capsule collection to support the reconstruction of their buildings, starting with the maloca—where generations have gathered for healing, music, and transformation. These are not just buildings. They’re vessels of living tradition, of protection for sacred plants, and of cross-cultural connection.

The family’s land also functions as a nature reserve, offering protection for the local Kambo frog and other native flora and fauna. Supporting this mission supports both cultural continuity and ecological stewardship.

This collaboration has been woven with love, trust, and intention from the very beginning—and I’m honored to share it with you.

Your purchases support more than this company; it’s more about just buying a cool shirt. It’s a direct investment in regeneration: of a healing center, a sacred lineage, and a family that has given so much to the world.

🌀 If you missed the pre-sale, stay tuned! Next week, we’re announcing our summer vending calendar, the winner of our raffel, and soon we’ll announce the launch of our webstore!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for walking this path with us.

With gratitude and purpose,

Founder+Artist
Earth Medicine Apparel Co.

🐸 Coming Up Soon in EarthMed Threads:

• Vending Dates - Come see me in person this summer!

• WTF did we do a logo change right before launch?!

• What is Kambô? All about our featured Earth Medicine

• All about the sustainable materials and ethical sourcing for our garments

• Website launch announcement

Thank you for being here, and thank you for believing in me and my vision for what Earth Medicine Apparel Co. is becoming.