We recently connected with Roxana Gomez and have shared our conversation below.

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

WAPA Handmade was born from a desire to create meaningful opportunities for women in Colombia while preserving the beauty of traditional craftsmanship.

In 2018, I was actively involved with the Colombian Student Association while pursuing my graduate studies in Texas. As part of our community initiatives, we organized donation campaigns to support underserved communities in Colombia. During one of these efforts, we connected with the Wayuu indigenous community in La Guajira, a region facing significant economic challenges despite its rich cultural heritage.

As we learned more about their daily lives, I was deeply inspired by the incredible craftsmanship of the women artisans. They created beautiful handmade bags and accessories using techniques that had been passed down through generations. What struck me most was that these women possessed extraordinary talent, yet many had very limited access to broader markets where they could sell their work and earn sustainable income.

I remember holding one of their handmade bags for the first time and thinking, “People in the United States would love these products, not only because they are beautiful, but because each piece carries a story, a tradition, and a purpose.”

What started as a simple idea quickly became a passion. I wanted to create a bridge between these talented artisans and customers who value authenticity, craftsmanship, and social impact. The more I learned about the artisans and their stories, the more convinced I became that this was something worth pursuing.

The excitement wasn’t just about selling a product, it was about creating opportunities. I saw the possibility of helping women generate income from their skills while sharing a beautiful part of Colombian culture with the world.

Unlike mass-produced fashion, these pieces were handmade, one-of-a-kind, and deeply connected to the artisan who created them. That uniqueness, combined with the opportunity to make a positive impact, gave me the confidence to take the leap and launch WAPA Handmade.

Today, what began with a small group of Wayuu artisans has grown into partnerships with Indigenous women and independent artisans across Colombia. Every product we sell represents not only craftsmanship, but also empowerment, cultural preservation, and the belief that business can be a force for good.

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 background and context?

My name is Roxana Gomez, founder of WAPA Handmade, a Texas-based brand that partners with Indigenous and independent women artisans throughout Colombia.

I started WAPA Handmade in 2018 after connecting with the Wayuu Indigenous community through volunteer work. I was inspired by the incredible craftsmanship of the women artisans and saw an opportunity to help bring their handmade products to a larger market while creating sustainable income opportunities.

Today, we offer one-of-a-kind handmade bags, clutches, jewelry, hats, and accessories that celebrate Colombian culture and traditional craftsmanship. What sets us apart is that every piece is handmade, tells a story, and directly supports the women who create it.

What I am most proud of is building a brand that combines beautiful products with meaningful impact, empowering women while preserving cultural traditions for future generations.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes, WAPA Handmade started as a side business and eventually became my full-time career.

Before focusing on WAPA Handmade, I built a professional career aligned with my academic background. I hold both an MBA and a Master’s in Communications, and my last position was with the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), where I managed a Business Procurement Center that helped minority-owned businesses access contracting and growth opportunities.

While I loved the work, I realized that WAPA Handmade had grown to a point where it deserved my full attention. I made the decision to leave my full-time job and dedicate myself completely to growing the business.

One of the first steps was participating in local markets and pop-up events throughout Texas to build brand awareness and connect directly with customers. As the business grew, I expanded into larger events and began exhibiting at major state fairs, including those in Texas, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. These experiences helped us reach thousands of new customers and significantly grow our brand.

Today, our focus has evolved from small pop-ups to building strong wholesale partnerships with well-known boutiques and retailers. You can now find WAPA Handmade products in respected locations such as Curio at Hotel Emma, Hotel Monarch, and other boutiques throughout San Antonio, Rockport, and Comfort, Texas.

One of the milestones I am most proud of is transforming a passion project into a sustainable business that not only supports artisan communities in Colombia but has also earned a place in some of the most recognized retail destinations in Texas.

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

One of the most challenging periods in my entrepreneurial journey had nothing to do with sales, inventory, or business strategy, it was deeply personal.

After transitioning to work full-time on WAPA Handmade, I went through a difficult season where certain relationships in my life negatively affected my confidence and sense of purpose. The emotional impact was so significant that I began to question not only myself, but also the business I had worked so hard to build. For the first time, I started wondering if I should walk away from it all.

During that period, I felt discouraged and disconnected from the passion that had originally inspired me to start WAPA Handmade. However, my faith became my greatest source of strength. Through prayer, reflection, and what I believe were clear signs from God, I felt continuously reminded that my journey was not over and that there was still a purpose behind the work I was doing.

Instead of giving up, I chose to trust the process and surrender control. I focused on moving forward one step at a time, even when I couldn’t see the bigger picture.

Looking back, that difficult season became a turning point. Not only did I regain confidence in myself and my mission, but the business began to grow in ways I never expected. New opportunities appeared, partnerships expanded, and doors opened that reinforced why I had started this journey in the first place.

That experience taught me that resilience is not about never doubting yourself, it’s about continuing to move forward despite those doubts. Today, WAPA Handmade is stronger than ever, and I believe that growth came from learning to trust both the process and God’s timing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wapahandmade.com
• Instagram: @wapahandmade
• Facebook: @wapahandmade
• Linkedin: Roxana gomez

Image Credits

Some pictures were taken by Santiago Gonzalez @shotsbysanti