”When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy” - Rumi 

Last weekend, I made a quick visit to NYC since having left in March 2020 due to Covid. My husband and I had bittersweet feelings,it was great to feel the rush of the city but we couldn't help but feel a bit lonesome for our friends and family back in the Midwest, where, despite having lived in the city for a collective 27 years, we still call home.

Our lonesomeness was soon happily distracted by texts, selfies and photos received over the weekend: "Look! I'm having a Mestiza Moment!" or "Thinking of you...Spotted Mestiza in the wild!" Then, my mother-in-law uploaded a photo of her wearing our Clementine Dress to our family shared album. She looked beautiful. I remembered when we were designing that dress- adding princess seams for an easy slimming fit, cap sleeves for a bit of coverage, a two inch hem allowance for those who want a bit more length and putting it in our iconic chinoiserie print. Then, the cherry on top, we named it after my daughter, and her granddaughter, Clementine. I was reflecting on all the love and labor we put into that one style, and to watch it come to life on someone I love, who loved wearing it, was a truly satisfying feeling.

Clementine will always have that photo of her grandmother, maybe she’ll wear the same dress one day, honoring the woman who wore it and the women who conceptualized it. Then, it all came full circle to me. Even though we won't be physically together, we honor and remember loved ones through what we leave behind. And maybe we're not that far apart after all.

My hope as one of the founders is that you too can find meaning in our creations and make others smile while wearing them.