About Us

Welcome to Pura Vida Souqs — a name that brings together two places that have shaped our lives in very different ways.

“Pura Vida” comes from Costa Rica. It’s difficult to translate into just a few words because here, it’s much more than a saying. It’s a way of appreciating life, nature, people, and the simple moments in between.

“Souqs” takes us to the Middle East and its traditional marketplaces — places full of craftsmanship, colors, different cultures, and things with a story behind them.

Put the two together, and you have Pura Vida Souqs.

We’re Stefanie and Björn — the people behind it.

Stefanie studied Life Sciences for more than five years at the University of Potsdam in Germany. Her interest in plants, ecosystems, and the natural world started long before Pura Vida Souqs existed and has stayed with her ever since. You’ll find a lot of that curiosity in what we create today.

Life later took her to Dubai. It couldn't have been more different from what came before — desert instead of forests, striking architecture, and people and cultures from all over the world. It became another source of ideas and inspiration.

Björn has been drawing from a young age. Years later, his creative path led him to Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, where he discovered a hidden house surrounded by jungle and fell in love with the place.

It was there that he met Douglas, a Canadian artist and craftsman who had made Costa Rica his home with his lovely Costa Rican wife, Carolina. A chance meeting turned into a real friendship — with art, ideas, plenty of laughter, and the occasional game of pool along the way.

Eventually, Costa Rica became our home too.

And living here has changed the way we look at Pura Vida Souqs.

Scarlet Macaws fly over our heads. Monkeys make themselves heard in the trees. Tropical plants grow seemingly everywhere, and the Pacific is never far away. Nature isn't something we have to go looking for here — it is simply part of everyday life.

Naturally, it has found its way into our work.

We create and curate wearable art, illustrations, and other pieces inspired by things we actually see, places we know, and moments that stay with us. Sometimes an idea starts with a photograph, sometimes with a drawing, and sometimes with something as simple as spotting a bird outside.

But the more nature became part of what we create, the more important another question became to us: How can we give something back?

That is why a portion of the proceeds from Pura Vida Souqs goes to selected conservation organizations. We want to continue building relationships with people and organizations working to protect wildlife, habitats, and ecosystems — particularly here in Costa Rica.

And we want to be open about it.

In the Pura Vida Souqs Journal, we’ll regularly share who we support, our contributions, and the stories behind some of the wildlife and nature that inspire our work.

Pura Vida Souqs is still growing, and so are our ideas for what it can become. But one thing is already clear to us: we want to create things we genuinely care about and, at the same time, use what we are building to do some good.

We once heard that when you’re working on a dream you truly believe in, the hard work somehow doesn’t feel quite as hard.

Now we understand what that means.

This is our dream — creating, living close to nature, meeting wonderful people along the way, and hopefully giving a little something back.

Thank you for being here and becoming part of the story. 🌿

Stefanie & Björn
Pura Vida Souqs