Meet the Craftsman
I was born in Nizhni Tagil, Siberia, east of the Ural Mountains, and adopted at six months old by my father, also Ricardo, an economist from Mexico who worked for the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. His work shaped my upbringing, and by the time I reached adulthood, home had been many places.
I spent my early years in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., before moving through South and Central America, living in Peru, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and spending significant time in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Later, I lived in southern France and completed my final years of high school at Culver Military Academy in Indiana. These constant transitions fostered an attentiveness to place, culture, and the quiet details that define them.
I studied Philosophy, Ethics, and Russian Area Studies at Villanova University, where I was invited into the international honors society for philosophers. My academic path deepened in Russia, where I spent multiple summers in St. Petersburg studying the language and later working at the Liden & Denz Intercultural Institute during the pandemic. My studies focused heavily on history, religion, politics, and ethics — disciplines that continue to inform how I see craft and meaning.
After returning to the United States, I completed a master’s degree in Global Studies and International Relations with a concentration in international economics and consulting. My capstone work focused on U.S.–Mexico relations and culminated in an intelligence-style report prepared for submission to the U.S. State Department. I also completed Harvard Business School’s CORe certificate in the fundamentals of business.
Today, my wife and I live in Georgetown, in the same house I grew up in — a home my father purchased over forty years ago and which we recently restored after decades of tenants. While continuing to pursue work in my academic field, I found myself drawn to heritage brands, eventually joining Barbour, where I serve as a keyholder and manager on duty. The brand’s emphasis on tradition, durability, and longevity resonated deeply with me.
Barbour’s monogramming process introduced me to embroidery, though its limitations pushed me to explore the craft independently. Once I began working at home, I discovered how expansive embroidery could be — not just as decoration, but as a means of personal expression. I’m particularly drawn to themes of monarchy, English heritage, countryside life, and tradition — values reflected in Barbour’s history, royal warrants, and timeless design language.
For me, embroidery is a way to make something tangible and lasting. Each piece offers someone the chance to express individuality, values, and identity through thoughtful design. The Story Room exists to share that process — the journeys, ideas, and philosophies that shape the work — and to connect with others who care deeply about craft, history, and the stories we carry forward.
Behind The Scenes - Media and Storytelling
1,123,877 Views on YouTube
I often publish long-form videos from my travels and behind-the-scenes of my creative process. I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Instagram for live updates on projects. My primary aim for the channel is to showcase travel experiences and share parts of the world people may be curious about. I also focus on appreciating art and architecture, and exploring ways to incorporate these influences into my personal work and craft.
