We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria A Galvan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maria, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Everything started out in a small garage at my parents’ house in San Antonio, TX, where I made every single apron by hand. It all happened when I realized that I wanted to keep my clothes clean and still look sharp while working behind the bar. First, I made a few aprons for myself, and the constant compliments finally motivated me to start selling them.

The craftsmanship spoke for itself, and after the first year, I was outfitting the best restaurants and bars in the city.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mex. When I was 14, I moved with my family to Texas, where I went to Highschool. Right after, I embarked on a personal journey and landed in San Francisco at the Academy of Art Institute, where I studied Industrail Design. While studying, I worked as a server and eventually moved my way to bartending. I instantly fell in love with crafting cocktails and creating new concoctions. I was working all the time and soon, my entire wardrobe was filled with simple syrup and stains that were impossible to remove.

I like looking good, alright! Finding a stylish apron that fit me became impossible, so I started making my own. I only wore them for a few weeks before all my co-workers wanted one and that’s how LUCIO was born.

I specialize in crafting meticulously curated, high-end aprons and leather goods tailored for bars, restaurants, and cafés. Each piece is customized to meet the specific needs of my clients, from aprons and branded merchandise to leather coasters, placemats, and other bespoke items like custom glassware.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is collaborating with new restaurant openings. Clients often share design mock-ups, color palettes, and logos, and I use these elements to develop cohesive staff outfitting and complementary leather goods that align seamlessly with their interior design vision.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

For years, I traveled extensively to showcase and sell my aprons at various events. Some proved to be highly profitable and offered valuable networking opportunities; others were less rewarding. Traveling alone with suitcases full of aprons, setting up my booth, engaging with attendees for hours, and breaking everything down by myself was both physically and mentally demanding. At times, I had the means to stay in comfortable accommodations, but there were also occasions when I arrived in unfamiliar cities with no set plans and limited funds—driven solely by the determination to present my work to the right audience.

I vividly remember one weekend spent sleeping in my car to avoid cutting into my earnings, and countless late nights spent finishing aprons before a show. I was younger then, fueled by ambition and a deep commitment to building my business. Those experiences have become core memories that continue to shape who I am today. While I no longer travel to events and have transitioned to primarily selling online from the comfort of my home, I carry those early adventures with immense pride.

Looking back, I’m proud of my resilience and perseverance during those challenging times. They were pivotal in building not only my business, but also my character.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead has been instrumental in shaping the way I approach leadership with compassion. While I’m still learning and far from perfect, the insights from this book have stayed with me. It helped me become a more effective communicator—not just with my team, but with everyone around me. It also transformed how I handle challenges, teaching me to process emotions before reacting and to approach problems with a clearer, more grounded mindset.

As a business owner, receiving criticism can often feel deeply personal. When your work is such a significant part of your identity, it’s easy to interpret setbacks as personal failures. This book taught me the value of having courageous conversations with openness and empathy. I’ve learned that a difficult interaction—like an upset client—can be an opportunity to rebuild trust and, in some cases, form lasting relationships.

I highly recommend Dare to Lead to anyone—not just entrepreneurs or leaders. It’s an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to grow in communication, compassion, listening, and leading with genuine human connection at the center.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.luciotailoringco.com
• Instagram: @luciotailoringco
• Facebook: Lucio Co.
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-galvan-075a9914b/

Image Credits

All product photography is done my be!