We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maria Corina Azpurua. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maria Corina below.
Maria Corina, 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.
The idea for Carmarí Active came about during the pandemic, when life had slowed down and many of us were left to find ways to stay motivated at home. With gyms closed, working out at home became one of the few outlets for both physical and mental health. To keep myself motivated, I decided to treat myself to some new activewear. But I didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg on the well-known fitness brands.
I ordered a pair of leggings from a random brand, and when they arrived, I was amazed by the quality. The fabric was soft, durable, and comfortable—everything I wanted, at a fraction of the price. That was my lightbulb moment. I realized there was a gap in the market for people like me who wanted high-quality activewear without the luxury price tag.
The very next day, I shared the idea with my cousin who is my partner in this journey. Talking it through gave me even more excitement and direction. I had always dreamed of creating a business I was passionate about, and this felt like the perfect opportunity. Fitness had been a constant in my life, so building a brand around something I loved made it even more meaningful.
From that point on, I threw myself into the process. I researched fabrics, manufacturing options, and designs, all with the goal of making activewear that felt luxurious and performed well without being overpriced. There were so many late nights spent perfecting prototypes, sourcing manufacturers, and defining the identity of what would become Carmarí Active.
When we finally launched, it was the most rewarding moment. Seeing people wear Carmarí Active and hearing how confident and comfortable they felt validated all the hard work. It wasn’t just about creating a product—it was about solving a problem and building a community.
Today, Carmarí Active continues to reflect the passion and purpose that started it all. It’s not just a brand; it’s a way to empower people to feel their best—without compromise.
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?
I’m a marketing professional with over a decade of experience, but I’ve always had a deep passion for fitness, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Carmarí Active was born from a simple yet powerful realization: there’s a need for activewear that combines premium quality with accessibility.
At Carmarí, we offer a range of thoughtfully designed products: high-quality leggings, sports bras, tanks, and our most recent addition, a fitness bag. Each piece is created with performance, comfort, and versatility in mind, so our customers can transition seamlessly from their workouts to the rest of their day
What truly sets us apart is our dedication to delivering exceptional quality and prioritizing our customers’ needs. We meticulously choose fabrics to ensure each piece meets the highest standards of comfort and performance. Our goal is to make premium activewear accessible to everyone, offering products that are as functional as they are stylish, and designed to make you feel amazing every time you wear them.
Our biggest satisfaction to date has been seeing returning customers. Knowing that people come back to Carmarí Active because they love the quality and experience we provide is the ultimate validation of our mission. It reminds us that we’re building more than a brand—we’re creating a community.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Throughout my journey with Carmarí Active, there have been many hiccups that, at the moment, felt like the end of the world. But now, I look back on those moments, laugh, and see them as invaluable learning experiences.
One of the most memorable challenges was with our very first batch of leggings. After months of hard work and meticulous preparation, the order arrived, and we quickly noticed something was off—the printing of the logo wasn’t the quality we wanted, and the logos were upside down. It was almost heartbreaking. The supplier had sent us the final design for approval, and in our excitement, both my partner and I completely missed the mistake.
It felt like such a huge failure at the time because we had been so careful with every other detail. To have things go wrong on something so seemingly small was a tough pill to swallow. But that experience, along with other issues with the same supplier, pushed us to search for a new partner who could truly understand and execute our vision.
That misstep was a blessing in disguise. It taught me the importance of slowing down and double-checking even the smallest details. It also reminded me that every setback is an opportunity to grow and improve. Today, I work with a supplier who shares my commitment to quality and helps bring the Carmarí Active vision to life.
This story is a reminder that resilience isn’t about avoiding mistakes—it’s about learning from them and coming back stronger
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients for Carmarí Active has been word-of-mouth, social media, bazaars, and simply wearing our sets to workout classes. When I wear our pieces to classes, I frequently get asked about them, which naturally leads to conversations and new clients. Our use of Instagram and other social platforms has also allowed us to connect directly with our audience, showcase our products, and engage with potential customers who resonate with our mission of providing quality, accessible activewear.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Carmari.shop
- Instagram: Carmariactive
- Other: TikTok: @carmari.active
Image Credits
Image 2 & 4 Memotofoto
Image 3 & 6 Jenn Herrera