We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carla Colin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carla below.

Carla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I am an immigrant who came to Colorado when I was 15 years old and did not return to my country, Mexico, until 13 years later. My return to the land where I was born was not in a traditional way, I went as a DACA recipient with a permit called Advance Parole that I obtained through a previous employer, what this permit means is that you can leave the country for a very limited time and when it is time to return the immigration agent who receives you decides whether or not you can enter the country back, that is what those of us who leave with this type of permit risk. Many people told me not to go because it was too risky but I was not afraid, something inside me told me that everything would be fine, that if God, life and the universe had allowed me to have this opportunity it was for a good reason.
When I arrived in Mexico, almost everything looked different, the streets, the places I used to visit, the people, even my family was different, there were relatives I didn’t know and others I left behind and were no longer there. But I realized something that was the same, something that hadn’t changed, poor people, people from neglected and marginalized communities, artists and artisans selling on the streets, being belittled and with people haggling over their products, asking for discounts for its traditional art pieces and without valuing the culture of many generations.
Unfortunately that was still the same as I remembered it, maybe even worse. But I didn’t know what to do, I wanted to help everyone, buy everything they sold, but I couldn’t. I only bought some gifts for my family and friends, little souvenirs that showed the culture of my wonderful country. When I came back and gave these gifts to my friends and family, they all loved them, they asked me for more and I didn’t have them anymore, they wanted to share them with other people, and that’s when I knew again through an instinct in my gut that this was what I could do to help those indigenous communities, bring their products and make them known here and share them with all those who appreciate Mexican art and culture. And that’s how Mi Casa Azul began in 2017.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am an entrepreneur, community leader, and human rights advocate. I get involved in topics like art, education, recognition and respect of indigenous and marginalized communities, minority owned business among others. I was born in Mexico City and identify as Latina/Mestiza, person of color, and immigrant who came to live to Colorado at the age of 15 and encountered a cultural and language shock I was able to overcome those barriers and use them as a push to get ahead. I spend my time working for Latinx and low income communities, supporting emerging artists, organizing cultural events for Latino art, culture and traditions, supporting inclusive leadership, economic development, and generational wealth, for community improvement and growth. I am a Social Worker by profession and a community leader by choice. All my experiences as an immigrant, a woman, a person of color, with English as a second language, among others, have led me to better understand and work in my business and in my community.
The core values of Mi Casa Azul is to work based on a fair trade system, respecting all individual that collaborate with me and my business and to also create a positive impact in the local community supporting organizations that give opportunities to underserved communities sharing a percentage of our profits with them. We also focus on educating our public about the cultural and generational value of art pieces and we work to open spaces for Mexican art to be exhibited in places that were not seen before.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started my business with the wrong target audience. I assumed that all Mexicans and Latinos felt the same passion that I did when seeing arts and handmade products, and I soon realized that there was still a lot of education lacking within our own people as they questioned the price of the products and compared it to the price that was paid in Mexico. I was about to give up. But I realized that I would not only sell products but also educate people about the process, the time and the effort to make each thing, that they are not products made in bulk, that behind them there is a cultural meaning of traditions that are passed down from generation to generation and that I must tell the story of the art and the artists who make it because it is something that I learn by having direct contact with them, I do not use intermediaries, first so that the money goes directly to these underserved communities, and also to be able to to know their stories and to keep prices affordable despite being invaluable products due to the cultural richness with which they are formed.
After analyzing all this, I decided that my target audience was all those who value art and like to educate themselves about the stories behind each piece, regardless of where they come from and what country or culture they identify with.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Just before the pandemic started I had brought in a large order of products that I couldn’t sell at art markets or other events like I used to and didn’t know how to keep my business afloat. I started using social media and weekly live videos so people could order and started contactless delivery, I also ordered embroidered face masks and sold almost 900 of them during the summer of 2020 and that’s how I was able to keep my business going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://micasaazulco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mi_casaazul/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mexicancraftsboutique
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mi-casa-azul/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@micasaazul/videos
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@micasaazulco Shop BIPOC: https://shopbipoc.com/business/mi-casa-azul-llc/

Image Credits
Team picture: Elements Photography by Josh Gamez Products Pictures: Mi Casa Azul