We recently connected with Kimberly Mota and have shared our conversation below.

Kimberly, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

The inception of De La Luna intertwines with my personal journey of self-love and healing, making the question of whether I wish to have started my business sooner or later a reflection of my broader life narrative. To say, “yes, I wish I could have started my business sooner,” aligns with expressing a desire to have believed in myself, stood up for myself, and acknowledged my worth earlier. However, I also recognize that the timing of events in my life played a crucial role in De La Luna’s inception.

In late 2019, I liberated myself from an emotionally abusive relationship that spanned eight years. For the first time, I set out to understand who I was independently, free from someone else’s definition of my identity. Shortly thereafter, the pandemic struck, prompting a global shutdown. Amidst the challenges of navigating the pandemic in Elmhurst, Queens, a former epicenter of COVID-19 in NYC, the reality dawned on me – there was no longer anything to divert my attention from confronting the emotions I had been evading.

It was during this period that I allowed myself to feel, to daydream, and to envision the possibility of starting a small business. This act of courage was, in itself, a significant step for me. The fear of scrutiny, the fear of failure, and, most profoundly, the fear of vulnerability were always in the back of my mind but in December 2021, I launched De La Luna.

Past me, in that moment, made a courageous decision to take a chance on herself, to believe in herself. If I could travel back in time, I would convey to her the profound empowerment and transformation that this decision would bring to both herself and our mom along the way.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

De La Luna is not just a business for us; it’s a journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. Co-owned by my mother and myself, I specialize in unique handcrafted polymer clay jewelry, accessories, and suncatchers, along with beautiful crochet flower arrangements and plushies created by my mom. Our pieces draw inspiration from the ethereal, the dreamlike, and the magic of moments, designed to honor our inner children and the child within all of us.

The inception of De La Luna was deeply personal, born out of a period of healing from a nearly decade-long emotionally abusive relationship. As I navigated the path of self-love and self-discovery, I asked myself a crucial question: “What did I enjoy doing for fun?” Unable to answer that directly, I turned to my younger self’s interests, recalling a passion for creativity and daydreaming. Determined to honor my inner child, I launched De La Luna, a journey that allowed me to create based on my inner thoughts and sources of joy.

Launching a small business amidst healing was mentally difficult, requiring a rewiring of my self-belief and overcoming the fear of whether others would appreciate what I would make. In December 2021, I took the leap, posting my first collection and witnessing the power of what it meant to create a space for my creativity.

My mom, who had always been my number one supporter, soon joined the journey. For the first few weeks, she just sat next to me watching me and absorbed the world of polymer clay. That night when I went to bed, she stayed up and crafted two pairs of earrings. These handmade pieces, displayed alongside mine, sold within the first week at a physical storefront. This validation became the catalyst for our ongoing collaboration.

Encouraging my mom to explore her own creative passions, we uncovered her love for crocheting. In February 2023, she officially became my business partner, transforming De La Luna into a collaborative mother-daughter venture.

Since then, De La Luna has participated in numerous markets, pop-ups, and community events, with our products available at The World’s Borough Bookshop in Jackson Heights. Yet, the most impactful aspect has been the people we’ve met – fellow small business owners, community members, and customers who not only appreciate our work but invite us to be part of their events or stock our products. This overwhelming support has empowered us, not just in our business but in our personal lives, fostering self-confidence and a deeper understanding of our worth, creativity, and vision.

Starting De La Luna wasn’t just about creating beautiful, handcrafted items; it was about reclaiming our joy, finding a supportive community, and realizing that our work is valued. Our journey goes beyond crafting; it’s a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery, creativity, and the unwavering support of a community that believes in the magic and love we put into what we create.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

If I could recall back to one specific moment, It would be my first time doing a solo pop up market. At that point in time, I thought the hardest decision I could make in regards to being a small business owner would be to take the first step in launching De La Luna, but then came the hurdle of tackling in person markets while juggling (at that time) extreme social anxiety.

I had a panic attack during the first three markets I was a part of. I was so terrified to continue and I almost talked myself into giving up altogether. Deep down, I knew that I deserved to honor the goals that I set out for myself, no matter how daunting. For every other voice in my head that told me “You can’t do this”, or “No one will even care”, I made sure that the voice yelling “Keep going, I believe in you” was even louder.

I went from experiencing constant panic attacks during markets and pop ups, to genuinely looking forward to connecting with people through my art.

Over time, I have also been able to witness the same in my mom. She has gone from, being afraid to engage with people at markets, to even doing markets on her own. Being able to experience and witness both her and I’s self-confidence empowers me to continue.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

This is such a great question because there was so much I feel I had to unlearn and also learn in order to start De La Luna. I think the biggest thing I had to unlearn was that there is shame in “failure”. For a very long time, I let the fear of others watching me try to do something new and failing, stop me from even trying. I had always had ideas or new things I wanted to learn and try but while it was easier to start them, I always had trouble following through. So I would say, unlearning this shame and learning to commit to myself and my goals was the biggest lesson i’ve learned.

I remember when I first applied to a market, before I really decided to start De La Luna, I had the event coordinator reach out and send me a voice memo where he essentially told me that people wouldn’t want to come to my table because there was too much going on. My first reaction was to feel shame for thinking I could apply to this market, and next I felt sadness and anger all at once. I wish I could say that this didn’t affect me but it me a few months to bounce back and work up the courage to try again.

I always mentioned that my mom has been my number one supporter but I knew that if I was going to start a business, I needed to believe in myself first. I needed to be my best supporter so that when “failure” came, I wouldn’t internalize it and quit altogether. I needed to face rejection, accept it and learn not to fear it but actually embrace it.

Since De La Luna launched, I have tried new things and mediums– some of which have worked and some of which haven’t. I don’t see any of these instances as failure though, instead this is the part of the process I now find most fun. There is power in allowing your inner child’s creativity to run rampant with ideas. When I look back at everything I’ve launched in my small business (incense holders, mini paintings. wall hangings, decor, sun catchers, beaded jewelry, etc.) I recall the excitement I had when creating them. And thats really what I look back on– the happiness it brought me to know I could try something new time and time again.

This has been a journey with many ups and downs but De La Luna would not be what it is today without them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://delalunashop.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.delaluna/

Image Credits
Cathryn Lynne