Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabi De la Rosa.
Gabi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Texas Chingona began as an idea over a decade ago, I wanted to create t-shirts with phrases I’d heard growing up in South Texas. My idea never made it past the research stage, and then kids happened so it naturally fell by the wayside. Fast forward about 11 years, and I was at a place in my life where I felt I needed a creative outlet. I never completely forgot about the t-shirt idea and tees are now more of a fashion statement than ever before, so I decided just to go for it.
When I began thinking about the kind of t-shirts I wanted to create, I still wanted to focus primarily on Latinas, because I have always felt drawn to connecting with and empowering other women. I created my first two designs, the Texas Chingona, and Texas Chiflada tees and got started with a website and Instagram. I was off to the races, except that I only had about three followers… so it was a very slow start.
Using Instagram as my primary sales platform has been an eye-opening experience. Most people use social media to share personal photos and videos, but using it as an e-commerce tool is a completely different concept. I am still very much a newbie to the whole thing, Texas Chingona is less than one year old, but I have really enjoyed creating content for my feed. It is amazing to see how a single post can resonate with people from all over the country.
Great, 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?
I think anyone who starts a business will tell you that it is never a smooth road. I have learned so many things along the way and have made many mistakes. Deciding what design is going to go into the shop is always hard. There have been a few designs that I really thought would take off and have had no sales and vice versa.
Also, as a customer, you take for granted all of the small details that go into an e-commerce transaction. I’ve had to learn about the drop shipping process, calculating shipping rates correctly, as well as tax rates for different states. And of course, there are customer service issues that have come up like lost packages or printing mishaps.
My biggest piece of advice for any woman who would like to start a business is: just do it. It sounds cliché, but it is true. No business owner will have everything perfect from the beginning, but learning along the way is part of the journey. It is better to try than let the fear of failing hold you back. Also, it is completely normal to second guess yourself 150 times every day (or every hour).
What should we know about Texas Chingona? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am most proud of creating a Latina tribe around Texas Chingona. Chingona is a slang word that means a strong powerful woman – basically, a badass and I try to look through that lens when I create my t-shirts and post on social media.
It is a true honor when I get messages from women who say they are going to wear my shirt because they just got done with chemo or have been through a bad breakup and realized they are strong through it all. I have also gotten messages from women who are gifting my shirts to their besties, moms or tias for the same reasons.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I grew up with creative women in my life, my mom, grandmother, and aunts have always been creative in their own way. My sisters are also creatives, so I think it is just part of my DNA. I really admire other female entrepreneurs who have started with nothing more than an idea. It takes a lot of determination to create and persevere on a daily basis.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://texas-chingona.myshopify.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @texas__chingona
- Facebook: @texaschingona
Image Credit:
Bridget Heredia Photo, Mara Sotolongo Photography
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