Recognizing Hispanic-Owned Brands: Interviewing our Hispanic CCs
Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15th to October 15th, marks a time to recognize the histories and triumphs of Hispanic heritage and cultures. At Ideas To Go, we proudly believe in the power and essentiality of bringing diverse perspectives together to foster new ideas which would not be possible without our Creative Consumer® associates. To welcome and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we asked some of our Hispanic CCs to detail some of the especially innovative Hispanic-owned brands, products, and artists they love from their own perspectives. Here are four writings from our Creative Consumers® associates Chris, Yesenia, Jonny, and Alicia:
CC Chris: Saucy Lips
Our Creative Consumers® associate, Chris!
“My name is Chris and I currently live in Dallas, but was raised in El Paso, Texas. During my childhood, I lived in Los Angeles for a few years, so I was fortunate enough to try Mexican flavors from both Los Angeles and El Paso.
I LOVE cooking and finding new items to use in my recipes. I really enjoy using salsas and sauces to enhance my dishes. Natalia Dalton Salazar has helped me countless times with sauces inspired by her mother, Gabriela. Her brand, Saucy Lips has an entire line of different flavors to appeal to cooks of all varieties.
Living in Texas, there is no shortage of Mexican food restaurants, but creating my own dishes is my passion and plays a crucial role in my life. I came across her brand while at Whole Foods and wanted to try this smaller brand rather than a large name brand.
Gabriela’s roots originate in the Yucatan Peninsula, but she later moved to Miami with her children. Her flavors have been taken to the next level by her family who’ve spread their passion for her flavors and authentic flair. I like finding the "diamonds in the rough" on store shelves to enhance my cooking with an even more exciting taste. After trying a few items from her line, I visit her website to see what more they offer and now keep my pantry stocked with Saucy Lips’ sauces and enhancers!
Saucy Lips’ flavors work very well with the recipes I use and help me come up with even more new dishes to create, enjoy, and cook for my friends. Saucy Lips products give me the choice to add spice if desired without completely altering her flavors which is perfect for my friends who can't always tolerate spicy food. I often use their sauces to create my own spin on dishes I've had at fine dining restaurants! ”
CC Yesenia: Despositos, Hija De tu Madre, & Vicky Bakery
Creative Consumers® associate, Yesenia!
“Hello! My name is Yesenia, I’m a Cuban-American artist and techie originally from Miami, FL, currently living in Austin, TX.
One of my new favorite Latinx-owned brands this year is a shop based in South Florida called Despojitos. I received their ‘Si Te Cojo, Te Despojo’ Ritual Box Gift Set as a present from a friend and immediately became obsessed. They offer stylish streetwear, accessories, and wares for all your witchy needs. I love that they source products from local vendors and makers. It’s great to see how they support the community and curate a brand that captures the vibe of South Florida.
Another favorite for apparel and accessories is LA based company, Hija De tu Madre. I love how they bring cultural references into their apparel like this sweatshirt that gives a wink at international reggaeton superstar, Bad Bunny. I also enjoy that they create products that bring Spanglish into the mainstream – like this Book of Jefa Moves. Overall, it’s inspiring to see them be unapologetic about their references to Latinx culture and make things that help people feel proud to represent a little piece of that.
Finally, growing up in Miami, a staple for Cuban treats and sweets is Vicky Bakery. Over the last 50 years they’ve expanded to 19 locations across South Florida, with plans to continue expanding. Most recently they’ve also started offering nationwide shipping. It’s exciting to see a brand that is so nostalgic for anyone that’s lived in South Florida continue to grow and now be accessible across the country. It’s a great way to share a bit of home with new friends here in Texas. Consider this fair warning that the ham croquetas are very addicting!”
CC Jonny: ‘Bones by Jarritos’
“Hello World! My name is Jonny, and I was born and raised in New York with Mexican roots. I enjoy many different activities in my free time including programming, crypto, eating, and soccer - so much so that I’ll be attending the World Cup in November!
Our CC, Jonny!
I also have a long list of favorite brands and products, but one that stands out as being especially innovative while managing to combine many of my favorite activities together is Jarritos.
Jarritos was founded in 1950 by chemist Don Francisco, “el guerro,” who wanted to combine the many fruits and flavors found throughout Mexico in a soda drink. Jarritos has been beloved in my life being nostalgic, delicious to drink, and surprisingly innovative. They have a huge social following and creative recipes that fuse the Jarritos taste into food, drinks, and desserts.
Jarritos has also branched out into clothing featuring their iconic logo, but the area I found most innovative was Jarritos NFT’s. They released an NFT collection called “Bones by Jarritos” which, for me, symbolizes a “web2” company exploring and crossing over to the new and exciting “web3”. This also acts as a sort of pass to exclusive events, drops, offers, and more.
A little behind the scenes on the making of the Jarritos Bones NFT Collection. Three lucky individuals who interact with this post over the next 48 hours will win a @SammyArriaga Music NFT. 🎞️🎸🔥
— Jarritos.eth (@Jarritos) September 15, 2022
Mil gracias Sammy for being a special guest tonight for our HHM celebration! pic.twitter.com/r3DbKDRZV1
I have always been captivated by the technology and innovation of crypto, so seeing one of my favorite traditional brands make the journey with me is exciting. I hope to get a “Bones” soon and join the Jarritos NFT Family!”
CC Alicia: Author, Rudolfo Anaya
Creative Consumers® associate, Alicia!
“As a Hispanic American, I have grown up to discover that cultural heritage is something that we need to cherish and pass down to our current and future generations. If we lose our cultural heritage, history, and traditions, we will have nothing. From the language, music, dancing, food, and overall cultural practices and customs, we each have an important role in practicing, preserving, and sharing these learned and inherited customs. As a Hispanic person in America, I have been provided with the unique opportunity to experience a variety of cultures and share my cultural background with others.
Being in a diverse cultural melting pot has provided many celebrities and companies with the opportunity to share and showcase our cultural background and values with the world. Celebrities such as Pitbull, Selena, Shakira, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Fernando Ortega, and Freddy Fender have shown the world the beauty of the Spanish culture and language through music. With this, they have been able to blend it into popular culture to unite them. They have shown people that music (in any language) is the key to the soul. It can express a variety of emotions. From each extreme, it can be used to cope with grief or brighten up a party, but most importantly it can be used to celebrate our cultures. With the mix of languages in the music, people can be connected (regardless of what language they speak). Cultural exposure through music can create a desire for others to want to experience more of the culture, the people, the unique cultural foods, and the language through cultural exploration.
In consideration of cultural importance, even on a more local level, one of my favorite Hispanic artists is the book writer, Rudolfo Anaya. Anaya was a writer born in the state of New Mexico. He grew up in the Land of Enchantment and graduated within the state. Anaya was not only a Chicano literary master, but he also worked as an educator within the state at both the high school and college levels. On top of being able to beautifully share stories and captivate readers, Anaya gave back to the community by creating a scholarship fund for underprivileged students and even lending his Jemez Mountain home to writers in need of a quiet place to work. Anaya brings Hispanic culture to life and shares our heritage with each individual who reads his stories. He worked hard to uniquely capture and describe cultural practices, folklore, and cultural experiences by creating literary masterpieces that enchant readers of all ages now and for years to come.”
Our team is so grateful to have such wonderful Creative Consumers® associates. They provide endless value and insight not only to us but to many clients every single day. It is important that we support the Hispanic and Latinx communities not only through this month but all year long! From authors and artists to fashion and food brands - we can greater support the entire Hispanic community by recognizing Hispanic-owned brands and companies. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month from ITG!