Today we’d like to introduce you to Belinda Mendez.
Hi Belinda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
To share my story, I need to first share a little bit of where I came from, who I am, and why I chose this journey. My name is Belinda, I’m a first-generation Mexican American. Raised in Houston. Both of my parents are natives of Michoacán Mexico. They immigrated to the US in the 80’s. If you can relate, you know this was for one reason, to have a better life, and better opportunities. My mom would always remind us we were her “Why”. Why she left her home to chase the American dream.
Dahlia Artesanal was created at the beginning of the pandemic. After I parted ways with corporate America after working with an organization for 10 years. I wanted to chase my dream. I knew I wanted to start my own business, but I know myself, I needed something that would be impactful, meaningful, and would stand to represent other Latinas like myself. So I decided to pack my bags and take a one-month trip to Mexico con mi Mami. I wanted to reconnect with my roots we made our way to Michoacan Mexico. This was a trip that inspired me to meet artisans, indigenous women, and small family-owned businesses. This is where I decided that I wanted to share little pieces of Mexico by ethically sourcing Artesanias (Handcrafted fair-trade goods). Since this trip, we have expanded to other states in Mexico, and I can proudly say we have created jobs throughout Michoacan, Chiapas, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Jalisco, and Guanajuato. The reason this is so special is that I have personally met the makers and ensured there is a fair trade to all of the products I personally select. All of our products can be found online at www.dahliaartesanal.com and will be shipped the same way they were handmade in Mexico Con Mucho Amor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s not always rainbows and butterflies. Some of my obstacles have been due to production time, since everything is handmade in Mexico we have delays in restocks. At times this makes it difficult to keep up with demand. Another pain point is delays at customs or damage goods due to shipping and handling.
We’ve been impressed with Dahlia Artesanal, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m the owner of Dahlia Artesanal. I pride myself on sourcing authentic handcrafted artisanal goods from Mexico. I take trips to Mexico to connect with the people who pour their hearts into their work. This journey has been such a humbling and rewarding experience. We specialize in premium leather goods ranging from Leather handbags, huaraches, and jewelry that highlight the Mexican culture. Everything we source was with the intention to make you feel connected to your roots.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have a small community on TikTok with 70K followers. Of which 98% are women. The way Latinas, the first-gen community, and dreamers have supported me, a stranger to them is nothing less than magical. My family is my backpack. I have a 15-year-old son who I hope my journey teaches him que “Si Se Suede”. I couldn’t have made this possible without the guidance and support of my mother. She has taken every trip with me to Mexico and that in its self so special to me. I am my mother’s American Dream.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://dahliaartesanal.com
- Instagram: @dahlia_artesanal_co
- Facebook: @dahlia_artesanal_co
- TikTok: @dahlia_artesanal_co
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