We had the good fortune of connecting with Ana Gabriela López and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ana Gabriela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When the Covid-19 global pandemic started I reconnected with a team of Indigenous artisan women in rural Guatemala I had met in 2018. I remembered them telling me how much their communities rely on tourism for their business to thrive. Their coperativa (co-op) was made up of 35 resilient women who were each representing and providing for their families.

Without knowing it, my social entrepreneurship journey began that moment with a genuine will to help. I began virtually collaborating with my co-op partners on innovative ways to expand our marketplace and started designing and creating unique artisanal handmade pieces to sell in the US. We’ve grown our community to 74 artisans around Guatemala. We’re about to hit our one year mark and we’re just getting started.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Indigenous art is rooted in sustainability. We approach our slow fashion creation process the same way our ancestors did: with a mutual respect for nature and the world we live in.

Guatemala is the heart of the Mayan world. Our history dates back to the rise of the Mayan civilization, whose legacy lives on today with the traditions and culture of our people.

Our top selling pieces are Jaspe. Pronounced HA-spay, Jaspe is the Guatemalan form of Ikat, an ancient and admired art form found in a number of cultures. Think of it as tie-dye done to the yarn before it’s woven, so the designs created by the tied areas show up in the finished cloth. This process is extremely complex and time-consuming.

The dying is only half of what makes it Jaspe. Over the centuries, our dying methods have been consistent. Our weavers embrace natural alternatives to otherwise toxic dyes. Thus, our products are dyed with natural elements from the earth giving them a rich and colorful palette derived from vegetables, plants, botanicals, and even insects.

Starting a slow fashion brand has come with a lot of challenges. Our overhead cost is high given the high quality materials we use to create our products and the time it takes to make each piece. Quality control was extremely difficult while we designed and collaborated virtually before our launch. We partnered with a Guatemalan logistics company to ensure everything is properly shipped through customs.

I have invested my own savings and work a full time job as an Enterprise Business Exec for LinkedIn to be able to retain full ownership of Chica Mala. There are a lot of American and European brands working with Guatemalan artisans but a huge motivator of mine is to build representation for Guatemalan and Indigenous founders. We need to be represented in our art, creations and culture. It’s our time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a part of the Jefferson Park and West Adams community conveniently located in the heart of LA. I love to eat and spend quality time with friends. I love a good workout especially if it leads to beautiful sceneries.

My favorite spots in the city:
Culver City steps for a workout with pretty views
Walk around downtown Culver City and grab ice cream at Coolhaus
Visit the platform in Culver City and have the Bee Sting Pizza at Roberta’s
Walk around and visit different Arts District Breweries followed by dinner at Bavel
Mid-City Mercado on Saturday to check out small POC-owned businesses in our neighborhood
Melrose Trading Post on Sunday to do some shopping
Papi’s in Jefferson Park to eat delicious Mexican Birria (currently closed but they have a location in Santa Monica)
Ramen Tatsunoya for dinner takeout
Dinner at Major Domo
Grab a beer at Party Beer in West Adams

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my mom and dad, I would not be where I am without my family. We moved to the US in search of better opportunities when I was 11 years old but I lived a life filled with love and support in Guatemala. I was brought up by my parents, grandparents and aunt who shared a home with me in Guatemala city. I was always told I could do anything and had so many examples of hard work, community, and compassion for others.

I also want to give a shoutout to my relentless, resilient and incredibly talented artisan partners throughout Guatemala. Without them, there is no Chica Mala. I talk to my partners on a weekly basis and visit them 2-3 times a year. They have welcomed me into their homes, introduced me to their families, and put a lot of trust in me, especially at the beginning of the pandemic.

Chica Mala has helped me reconnect with my Indigenous roots and impact rural communities in Guatemala financially. I know I’m making my family proud and honoring my ancestors.

Website: https://shopchicamala.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopchicamala/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-gabriela-lopez-78b45290/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopchicamala

Other: https://linktr.ee/shopchicamala

Image Credits
Chapin Films (our Guatemalan photography team) Napo Sojuel (local photographer in Lake Atitlan) We are proud to work with a 100% Guatemalan team

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