How do you compile a list of all of the Latino-owned lifestyle businesses in Los Angeles?
In a city where Latinos are nearly 50% of the population, there is certainly much to celebrate. So in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month we decided to start compiling a list, and in the process, one thing is clear: There are a lot of Latina business owners out there.
We recently highlighted a number of small independent Black-owned fashion and design businesses in Los Angeles, and want to do the same for Latino brands. If you have a favorite that we missed, please let me know and we may add it to the list. Keep in mind that many businesses have limited hours, and products, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
1. Beatrice Valenzuela
The Echo Park designer, known for her feminine apparel, accessories and minimal sandals, started the popular Echo Park Craft Fair — an annual festival devoted to Los Angeles makers — in her backyard with friend and fellow designer Rachel Craven. beatricevalenzuela.com
2. Birch and Bone
Floral designer Amelia Rose Posada’s DTLA floral design studio specializes in bespoke botanicals. birchandbone.com
3. Calivolve
Entrepreneurs Lilly Cabral and Mia Pham’s line of cannabis-infused chocolates are made with Belgian dark chocolate, full-spectrum hemp extract and ashwagandha. calivolve.com
4. Carlos Anthony Lopez
The self-taught designer and builder, who has designed the interiors of Cafe Stella, Ostrich Farm and Sawyer restaurants, recently opened Winston Studios, a design firm focusing on interior/exterior space design, art direction, floral, landscape, and set design. winstonstudios.com and theprojectassassin.com
5. Cisco Home
For three decades, Cisco Pinedo has created understated eco-friendly home furnishings and accessories using sustainable materials. ciscohome.net
6. Concrete Geometric
Krizia Flores’ concrete, geometric planters and votives have been sold at West Elm, Urban Outfitters and MOCA. During the pandemic, she is offering private digital workshops and custom DIY quick-dry concrete kits. concretegeometric.com
7. Cuyana
Classic bags and simple separates are designed by Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah with the philosophy that creating fewer but better-quality pieces will last. cuyana.com
8. Designing Chica
Susana Sanchez-Young’s prints and cards, posters and coffee mugs are inspired by her culture and current events. society6.com/thedesigningchica
9. Espacio 1839
The Boyle Heights store specializes in culturally significant clothing, masks, jewelry and books, and includes a booth for community radio. espacio1839.com
10. Estudio Persona
Minimal furniture and lighting designs, made from natural materials, by Emiliana Gonzalez and Jessie Young. estudiopersona.com
11. Francis’ Cactus and Succulents
This tiny outdoor lot in North Hollywood sells a variety of cactuses, succulents and some houseplants. franciscactus.com
T-shirts celebrating Latinas and women of color. shopgentleriot.com
13. Gladys Tamez Millinery
Handmade contemporary artisanal hats for both women and men in downtown Los Angeles; clients have included Lady Gaga. gladystamez.com
14. GRL Collective
Clothing, jewelry, stickers and more from the Latina lifestyle brand that is dedicated to ethical and sustainable practices. grlcollective.com
15. Hedley & Bennett
Former chef Ellen Bennett turned the need for stylish but functional aprons into a Vernon-based culinary line that includes handcrafted aprons, chef gear and face masks. hedleyandbennett.com
16. Hija de tu Madre
Patty Delgado’s Hija de tu Madre lifestyle brand explores the cultural intersection of being Mexican American with such pieces as a denim jacket adorned with an image of la Virgen de Guadalupe. hijadetumadre.com
17. Hola Mis Bonitas
Latinx stationery, stickers, and prints by Claudia Ramos, inspired by her life growing up in Los Angeles. holamijasbonitas.shop and claudiaramosdesigns.com
18. The Juicy Leaf
Felix Navarro’s Highland Park plant shop features terrariums and succulent arrangements, houseplants, cactus and housewares. He also offers DIY arrangements that you can create by following the step-by-step instructions on his Instagram. thejuicyleaf.com
19. Kneeland Co.
Joanna Williams, a longtime vintage textile consultant, recently opened a bricks-and-mortar store in West Adams specializing in one-of-a-kind, globally sourced,and handmade home goods and jewelry. kneelandco.com
20. The LA Garden
Latin-inspired stickers, clothing, home and office products as well as succulent arrangements by Dianna Martinez. You can find Martinez at the DTLA farmers market on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 5th & Broadway in front of The Last Bookstore. thelagarden.com
21. Latinx With Plants
Andi Xoch started selling houseplants on her Instagram account, Latinx with Plants, which led to the opening of her first plant shop in Boyle Heights last month. latinxwithplants.com
22. Lenita by Grita
Nemuel DePaula of the design studio Grita resumes his flower truck deliveries — courtesy of a pink 91 Dodge Aeromate — on Oct. 1. Additionally, he opened a flower shop this month at 1242 20th St. in Santa Monica. lenitabygrita.com
23. Lil’ Libros
Los Angeles moms Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein started Lil’ Libros in 2014 after they had a hard time finding children’s books in both English and Spanish. Their picture books, written by the co-founders, are designed to introduce bilingualism and Latin American culture to children. lillibros.com
24. Lincoln Avenue Nursery
Lincoln Avenue Nursery in Pasadena is owned by Ramon Franco, a Mexican immigrant who came to the United States when he was 14 in 1974, worked as a gardener, and then became a landscape contractor and purchased the nursery from the Takemura family in 2003. He now runs it with his children, Brenda Franco and Alejandro (Alex) Franco. lincolnavenuenursery.com
25. Loquita Bath
26. Luna Magic Beauty
This Latina-owned and operated beauty brand founded by sisters Mabel and Shaira Frías offers cosmetics, T-shirts and hairpins. lunamagic.com
27. LunaSol Vintage
Mexican vintage store selling original artwork, books, jewelry, and more in Uptown Whittier. Open Wed.-Sun. by appointment. Instagram: @lunasolmexicanvintage
28. Majestic Bliss Soaps
Vegan and cruelty-free artisan soaps by Marcela Arrieta, who started her popular brand in her Boyle Heights garage with a $500 GoFundme campaign. she began making soap for the first time, learning along the way with the help of youtube videos.
29. Mi Vida
Women’s tops and accessories illustrated with Mexican-inspired images and sayings such as “Paz y Amor” and “Yo te Cielo” from a Frida Kahlo poem. shopmivida.com
30. Mitú Shop
The Los Angeles-based Mitú Shop offers the latest Latino-inspired merchandise — apparel, jewelry and home decor. mitushop.com
31. Party Art Community
Socially conscious party goods, gifts and workshops by Destinie Escobedo. partyartcommunity.com
32. Pocket Square Clothing
Men’s pocket squares, ties and masks by founders Rodolfo Ramirez and Andrew Cheung. pocketsquareclothing.com
33. Pop Up Home
Tricia Beanum, known as the queen of estate sales, recently moved her West Adams warehouse to a massive showroom on Sycamore in West Hollywood. Shop for vintage furniture, accessories and art at 927 N. Sycamore Ave. popuphome.com
34. Querida Los Angeles
Vanessa Garcia’s Latina statement jewelry line is designed to promoted self-love and confidence. queridalosangeles.bigcartel.com/products
35. Raggedy Tiff
Apparel, stickers, stationery and pillows designed by Jessica Resendiz are influenced by the designer’s Mexican roots. raggedytiff.com
36. Sana Canna
Handcrafted vegan, hemp-infused body and skincare products, and plant-based sweets by Silvana Zamara. sanacanna.shop
37. SelvaNegra
Ethically-sourced apparel and accessories informed by the Latina heritage of designers Kristen Gonzalez and Sam Romero. selvanegra.us
38. Sweet Llamita
Bicultural stationery in Spanish, English and Spanglish by Brenda Castillo. sweetllamita.com
39. Tanya Aguiñiga
The Los Angeles-based designer, fiber artist and activist is known for her large-scale woven installations but also sells small pieces (prints, rope necklaces, and woven baskets) at occasional sample sales. tanyaaguiniga.com
40. Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural
In addition to book readings, film screenings, and art exhibits, this Latino-owned bookstore and cultural center in Sylmar offers bilingual intergenerational programming in mural painting, music, dance, writing, visual arts, healing arts sessions (such as reiki healing), and healing/talking circles. tiachucha.org
41. Ramon Valdez
The founder of Fine Art Solutions specializes in custom framing, fabrication, metal, woodworking, lamination and matting. fineartsolutionsinc.com
42. Valfré
Women’s apparel, accessories and home goods by Mexican-born artist Ilse Valfré. valfre.com
43. Viva la Bonita
Rachel Gomez’s Los Angeles-based Latina lifestyle and apparel brand includes T-shirts, sweats, jewelry and phone cases “inspired by the spirit of the women who are fearless.” vivalabonita.com
44. Xol y Luna
This Hawthorne-based small-batch apothecary and botanica creates healing tinctures, candles, and oils handmade with locally grown herbs. xolyluna.com
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
