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The end of October is a very busy time in Mexico, especially in Oaxaca, where regular activity comes to a full stop to prepare for and celebrate Day of the Dead. Though the holiday is in fact about death, it is a uniquely festive time where the senses are overwhelmed by color, light and sound. Revelers make ready for the "return" of the spirits of deceased loved ones for a brief time.
Designing apparel that is fashionable, uniquely handcrafted and ethically produced is a time consuming process which takes months to complete and is often challenging. So it is always something of a celebration when we complete a new collection and take it out to be photographed. I love to see the different ways our stylists and staff put looks together on our models. Of course, these are just our ideas and there are so many other ways to show one's own personal style.
And on that note, we'd love your help with our Catalina wrap giveaway starting this weekend! Enter to win your own by visiting one of our favorite ethical bloggers (links below) to read and see how they have styled them.
Here's a quick peek of what they came up with.
Leah at StyleWise
Hannah at Life+Style+Justice
Kasi at The Pea Hen
We encourage you to read the reviews on their blogs where you can sign up to win a Catalina wrap of your own. How will the Catalina reflect your personal style?
]]>Friends often remind me that I need to pause to look back at how far we’ve come at Abrazo Style. I’m not very good at looking back, but when I do take a moment I see a business with a growing number of passionate people who together are creating an exceptional collection of high quality, socially responsible, handcrafted apparel and accessories, despite the odds.
Our successes (and failures) over the past year resonate with the recurring theme of problem solving in virtually every aspect of what we do. Thinking out of the box (not recommended for those who aren’t in it for an adventure) is a prerequisite, while patience, persistence, and creativity in navigating diverse cultures is the only way to get things done.
Recently, while driving a road in Oaxaca contemplating where and how we could source the new plastic we needed for our totes (after months of frustrating dead ends), I noticed while waiting at a traffic light that the truck in front of me was covered in signs advertising recycled plastic. I grabbed a pen and quickly wrote down the phone number on my hand as the light turned green. That evening I called the number and, miraculously, connected with someone who knew someone who could help.
This is how we roll in Mexico. No amount of Google searches, phone books, or even legwork will guarantee success.
We experienced a rather stunning array of unpleasant surprises in 2014, the tales from which great novels are written. Everything from jealous mistresses to corrupt government officials, from plastic cartels to prolonged village fiestas blocked our path and even threatened our existence. Out of necessity we have been re-inventing our manufacturing processes and sometimes even the materials that our products are made out of.
But here we are, another year under our belt, growing stronger despite the odds. We continue to learn, sometimes stumbling, occasionally flying, building Abrazo Style, brick by brick.
Looking back, yes, I see we have accomplished a lot. But mostly I see the women and men we work with, growing and learning, gaining greater self-confidence, happiness, and financial stability. That’s what makes the rest of this crazy adventure worthwhile.
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