Leaving Venezuela to a Fresh Start in Miami: Maria Gabriela Duque Albornoz’s Handbag Designer Journey

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<v Speaker 1>Hi and welcome to the Handbag Designer 101 podcast with your host, emily Blumenthal, handbag designer expert and handbag fairy godmother, where we cover everything about handbags from making, marketing, designing and talking to handbag designers and industry experts about what it takes to make a successful handbag.

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome, maria Gabriela Duque-bornoz of Marigabi Designs.

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to the Handbag Designer 101 podcast.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you.

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<v Speaker 1>How are you, Emily?

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<v Speaker 1>I am so happy to have you All the way from Venezuela to Miami.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, right?

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, I'm in Miami right now.

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<v Speaker 1>Florida, oh my God.

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<v Speaker 1>But when we we met, you were still very much in venezuela.

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<v Speaker 1>Yes, two years ago, no, but that was the second time.

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<v Speaker 1>The first time was like at least five or six years ago.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, back in 2017, 17 or 16.

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<v Speaker 1>I think that's crazy.

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<v Speaker 1>So how long have you been doing this?

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<v Speaker 1>How long have you been making handbags?

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<v Speaker 1>Because your story is such a wild one.

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<v Speaker 2>I think I lost count More than 10 years now I've been doing this.

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<v Speaker 2>First it's a hobby, but now it's my full-time job.

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<v Speaker 1>So when you started, your child was your daughter.

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<v Speaker 1>She was tiny right.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, actually, when I started, she, she was not in the picture yet.

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<v Speaker 1>Ah, she was invisible.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's what we said.

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<v Speaker 1>She wasn't born yet.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, what were you doing as a job before that?

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<v Speaker 1>I was at college back then.

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<v Speaker 2>That's when I started making handbags, because I wanted to have special bags to carry to school, something cool, something different.

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<v Speaker 2>Because I didn't find any I don't know nothing spoke to you.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, those regular backpacks seemed so boring, so I wanted to have something that could match my personality and that's when my mom told me I think that's not so difficult to do, we can try.

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<v Speaker 2>We can buy some fabrics and try to make something that you like and that's pretty much when?

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<v Speaker 1>so did she teach you how to sew, or did you learn by yourself?

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<v Speaker 2>no, she.

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<v Speaker 1>She told me how to sew but did you have a machine like in the house?

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<v Speaker 1>Because to sew those kinds of materials it's like you pretty much need an industrial machine, right?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, but I did what I could with the.

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<v Speaker 2>We have a domestic like machines lab, right, these small ones that everyone can have, and I didn't use leather or so you used a fabric of some just fabrics of canvas or nothing too heavy and it was easier to sew with that machine.

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<v Speaker 2>Then was to the industrial ones, but a few later then.

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<v Speaker 1>Did you save money to buy the industrial machine when you started?

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<v Speaker 1>Was it one of these stories where, like, you made a bag and then people were like, hey, where did you get that bag?

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<v Speaker 1>And then it turned into like, oh, maybe I'll make one for a friend, maybe I'll make one.

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<v Speaker 1>And then you came home and said, mom, guess what happened?

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<v Speaker 1>And then you're like, let me just make one as a favor.

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<v Speaker 1>Was it one of those stories?

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, exactly like like that, because I didn't know that could be a business.

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<v Speaker 2>I just wanted to have a bunch of bags for myself and I use a different one each day, right, and that's when my mates noticed on, you have a different bag yesterday and you have a different one today.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, you can make that bag.

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<v Speaker 2>I want maybe a black one.

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<v Speaker 2>Can you do something like that with longer straps, or right, can you add this or that and run everything start what was it like, though?

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<v Speaker 1>like living in venezuela at this time?

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<v Speaker 1>Were you thinking big?

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<v Speaker 1>Were you like, ok, I'm just a university student?

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<v Speaker 1>Were you like, one day, I need to get out of here?

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<v Speaker 1>Or was it like this is my life, I'm going to stay in Venezuela.

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<v Speaker 1>That's it.

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<v Speaker 1>This is my story.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, but back then actually I didn't have plans to leave Venezuela.

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<v Speaker 2>But then I just want to finish college and this handbag side hustle was just for saving money and not just for saving for my personal.

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<v Speaker 2>How do?

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<v Speaker 1>you say it was like an outlet for you to do something creative.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, exactly, but I never took that seriously.

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<v Speaker 2>My plan was finish college and find a job, and I don't know, maybe, of course, the situation in Venezuela was getting tougher and tougher, and that's when I decided to go with my business, just to see how far can that?

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<v Speaker 1>lead.

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<v Speaker 2>So for people who don't know what was going on in Venezuela and how is it affecting you personally, Well, the thing is that finding a job wasn't so easy because of the lower rates, and that pretty much forced people to find another source of income because no one could get a job, because they kept lowering how much people could earn?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, because of the government.

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<v Speaker 2>Because of the government, yeah, and so it was easier to sell and run stuff yeah, and professionals aren't appreciated there yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>That's why I never had to work as an engineer.

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<v Speaker 2>I never had that chance.

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<v Speaker 2>Actually, I got my degree, of course, but I never had the chance to really work as an engineer.

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<v Speaker 1>What kind of engineering, it's electronic engineer.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, I mean, you know education, at least in that regard, did probably show you.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, there's definitely something to be said about what you're learning and how you can implement that into something creative, like how things work and identifying the why and designing into what the problem is.

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<v Speaker 1>Because a lot of people who come from the creative side get so fixed on the creative angle that they forget that whatever you make, number one needs to be bought, it needs to be sold, people need to come back, but it needs to fulfill a function yes, of course, and everybody asked me that how is that?

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<v Speaker 2>you are an engineer making handbags and I don't know.

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<v Speaker 2>I always had that creative part inside of me, but I do think that engineering was a key element to learn how to make patterns, how to construct the actual construction of the bag, you know to reverse engineer to work backwards, exactly, yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>I think it pretty much helped with that specific part how to really make the bag itself, because I didn't take any course or I didn't go to a fashion school or something.

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<v Speaker 2>Right, right, right, I had to self I'm self-taught Right.

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<v Speaker 1>That's good, because you know it can get really frustrating trying to figure out, even using a sewing machine, between different materials and how things work differently, with different needles, different threads, what can hold.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, that's science.

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<v Speaker 1>So many people discount that whole side of creating something.

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<v Speaker 1>But so at this point you know you ended up, you had a daughter.

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<v Speaker 1>She was little, and now you're making handbags full time.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, I was making bags full time and I already had my own studio and everything was going pretty well.

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<v Speaker 2>Actually, when I traveled to New York for the Hammer Award, I think that was the moment when I told myself I think I can make this for a living, because before that it was still kind of a cycle.

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<v Speaker 2>Right, right, I have to thank you for that.

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<v Speaker 2>To thank you for that, yeah, because pretty much of the main reason why I'm doing this is because of the handbag awards.

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<v Speaker 1>That's wonderful.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh, that's so great to hear.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, if we circle back to 2020, the bag that you made that you ended up winning.

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<v Speaker 1>I know you got a lot of mileage out of that bag.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, because clearly it became, I think, what is your anchor piece for your brand.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, and I know you were able to reuse it for another competition.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and I have redesigned the bag a few changes.

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<v Speaker 2>That mini bag is my, como digo, muleta, your muleta.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's the one my lucky charm.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh, wow, that's amazing.

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<v Speaker 1>That bag has taken you from one country to another, didn't it?

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 2>Super special, super special.

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<v Speaker 1>So talk a little bit about.

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<v Speaker 1>You, have this business, you have a small child.

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<v Speaker 1>When did you realize that?

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, I need to get out of Venezuela, I need to move to the US.

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<v Speaker 1>How can I do that?

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<v Speaker 1>Because I know, you know, and just as a side note, I write visa letters for so many designers Like I can't even tell you I just did one for.

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<v Speaker 1>And they all come through the handbag, awards or I've worked with, of course, support and make sure because that's you know, we need more people like that, who are self-motivated, have their own point of view, have DNA and really are.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, if you're coming into, especially this country, you have to be ready to put everything in Like it's like, that's it, I'm all in on.

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<v Speaker 1>My chips are in, my cards are on the table, like I'm going for it.

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<v Speaker 1>So, if that's it, I'm all in All my chips are in, my cards, are on the table, like I'm going for it.

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<v Speaker 1>So if that's going to come, I'm going to be the first one to say like, I'm here for it, I'm here to support you.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me know what you need.

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<v Speaker 1>So at what moment were you like okay, because I know it was during the pandemic that you moved, like how did all this happen and were you terrified?

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<v Speaker 1>And how did you know that you could continue this handbag line now that you were then out of Venezuela and now in the US, which is a totally different market?

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<v Speaker 1>If you ever wanted to start a handbag brand and you didn't know where to start, this is for you.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, like you said, that was first because of the pandemic.

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<v Speaker 2>The business back there was pretty slow because of that.

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<v Speaker 2>People wasn't buying bags, hair bags took a hit and things were yeah, I have employees by and I have to say goodbye to them.

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<v Speaker 2>And that was when I told myself I think I would say a leap of faith, because my brother was the one who took role, he came first yeah it was there before and I spoke with him and he was pretty supportive.

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<v Speaker 1>Was it your idea to leave, or was he like that's it, you got to get out of there like enough already.

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<v Speaker 2>No, no, it was my idea and I speak with him because, because I needed someone that could, I think it's the sponsor.

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<v Speaker 2>You, you, sponsor you, yeah, yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>A lot of countries, and I thought it would be a lot easier to ship from either from US, of course, and I already switched from Venezuelan clients to international clients.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think that was the reason what I thought maybe this could be easier from the US, and that was because of Etienne back then.

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<v Speaker 2>Right and well, I sold everything in Venezuela and I took those savings and what was going on there when I?

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<v Speaker 2>got here, I probably had like a thousand dollars to invest again from scratch all over again when you moved.

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<v Speaker 1>When I moved, what did you say to your daughter?

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<v Speaker 1>Were you like okay, that's it, we're moving?

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<v Speaker 1>And what were her thoughts?

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<v Speaker 2>that was the hard part, because she didn't want to come actually at first, of course, but she kind of understood the reason, because the schools as schools were closed.

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<v Speaker 1>So I think that that was like, if you're gonna be home, you might as well let's find you a new home and start over.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I was scared for her too, because I want her to have a better education, and she almost lost a year because of the pandemic, right, right, but she's already she's already adapted, she's well and in.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, what is she in?

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<v Speaker 1>Fifth grade, sixth grade.

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<v Speaker 2>Wow Right.

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<v Speaker 1>Wow, what a difference.

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<v Speaker 1>That's crazy.

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<v Speaker 1>You moved here and you had to start over from scratch.

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<v Speaker 1>Basically, Was that terrifying or you were like that's it.

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<v Speaker 1>This is the time to do it.

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<v Speaker 2>No, I was super terrified.

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<v Speaker 2>I bought a sewing machine domestic machine again, because I already have my the industrial ones in Venezuela.

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<v Speaker 2>So I had to start over.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, did you buy one or rent one?

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<v Speaker 2>No, I bought one, but something used.

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<v Speaker 2>Right, right, right, right.

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<v Speaker 2>I switched materials.

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<v Speaker 2>That's when I decided to go with this cactus leather I'm using right now and I have to learn how to work with this new leather.

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<v Speaker 2>Right, it took me a while.

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<v Speaker 1>It took me a while.

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<v Speaker 1>But why?

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<v Speaker 1>What's the difference in the materials?

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<v Speaker 1>Does it not hold?

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<v Speaker 1>Do you need, like, because you're using the cactus leather, the what's the brand called Deserto, deserto, right, right, right.

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<v Speaker 1>So it's the prickly pear, the prickly pear cactus, nogalo, nogalo, nopal, nopal, right.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm just making things up right now.

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<v Speaker 1>So each material functions differently.

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<v Speaker 1>In terms of function, in terms of, like the structure, it's a whole new.

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<v Speaker 1>It's like learning to cook with a different kind of food, entirely Exactly.

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<v Speaker 2>The one I was using in Venezuela was more sturdy, more structured.

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<v Speaker 2>This is totally different.

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<v Speaker 2>This needs a lot of support.

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<v Speaker 2>I had to redesign everything because nothing works the way I used to work with the older leather, right so.

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<v Speaker 2>But I really liked it because it looks like real leather on the outside Right.

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<v Speaker 2>So I really like working with, and Deserto is one of the few suppliers that can sell from one yard to 10 yards Right, they didn't have to buy a bunch of yards to make bags.

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<v Speaker 1>So their MOQs could work with someone like this yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>They're business friendly because they understand that Right.

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<v Speaker 1>So at this point you started over.

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<v Speaker 1>Did you mainly sell just on Etsy, was that?

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<v Speaker 1>And then you were like, okay, let me see how this goes, because you had to start somewhere.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, I started on Etsy but a lot of friends and family here started to known in my products and that was cool because, uh, at some point I was selling more offline than online.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, wow, wow.

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<v Speaker 1>So that takes a while, of course yeah of course.

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<v Speaker 1>So at this point you saw this etsy competition you submitted.

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<v Speaker 1>You ended up winning with this lucky charm bag that we all collectively know so well.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm sure that has been a huge turnover for your business.

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<v Speaker 1>Like a huge like.

00:19:12.194 --> 00:19:14.917
<v Speaker 1>Okay, we're at a totally different level at this point.

00:19:15.458 --> 00:19:21.424
<v Speaker 2>A huge a huge because, uh, I was actually losing faith last year.

00:19:21.424 --> 00:19:27.671
<v Speaker 2>I had to take a job, of course, because I had to pay my bills.

00:19:27.671 --> 00:19:28.531
<v Speaker 2>What were you doing?

00:19:28.531 --> 00:19:46.958
<v Speaker 2>I was working as an assistant for a fashion designer, actually Just cutting fabrics, making crafts, sewing stuff like that as a part-time job, because I always wanted to have time for my daughter too, right?

00:19:46.958 --> 00:19:50.536
<v Speaker 2>So I couldn't take a full-time job, right?

00:19:50.536 --> 00:19:59.859
<v Speaker 2>So I was doing part-time and the rest of the day I'm working on my bags and stuff, right.

00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:11.321
<v Speaker 2>Then the Etsy awards came and, oh my god, I never thought I could wear that thing, never.

00:20:11.321 --> 00:20:12.325
<v Speaker 2>Never thought that.

00:20:12.325 --> 00:20:15.202
<v Speaker 2>I wasn't prepared at all.

00:20:15.817 --> 00:20:21.135
<v Speaker 1>Like I said, I was because you were still making all the bags yourself, right, yeah?

00:20:21.498 --> 00:20:22.422
<v Speaker 2>of course.

00:20:22.422 --> 00:20:37.260
<v Speaker 2>And that's when I called my sister and I need you because my sister is still in venezuela, right, she traveled back and forth but she's there and I have to call her.

00:20:37.260 --> 00:20:46.540
<v Speaker 2>And my mom came with her to help me and I'm hiring people because Did you quit the bartending job?

00:20:46.540 --> 00:20:48.179
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, immediately.

00:20:48.179 --> 00:20:56.007
<v Speaker 2>I the week after that because I couldn't keep up with anything.

00:20:56.007 --> 00:20:57.288
<v Speaker 2>And it's still.

00:20:57.288 --> 00:20:59.383
<v Speaker 2>I'm still navigating.

00:20:59.383 --> 00:21:02.394
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I'm still trying to figure it out.

00:21:03.137 --> 00:21:14.580
<v Speaker 1>It has been very exciting, but very overwhelming too oh right, yeah, it's like be careful what you wish for, kind of thing yeah, exactly that's right.

00:21:14.661 --> 00:21:16.163
<v Speaker 2>That's what my sister told me.

00:21:16.163 --> 00:21:24.807
<v Speaker 2>Right for that now you have to do face it, but it's hard because it's something I wasn't expecting.

00:21:25.188 --> 00:21:25.409
<v Speaker 1>Right.

00:21:25.409 --> 00:21:28.042
<v Speaker 1>So what's next, now that you have all this?

00:21:28.042 --> 00:21:29.882
<v Speaker 1>You know there's a lot of demand.

00:21:29.882 --> 00:21:41.309
<v Speaker 1>How are you able, looking and thinking, to scale, like to do this, from where you are to making this into something considerably bigger, because you have this opportunity right now.

00:21:41.690 --> 00:21:59.517
<v Speaker 2>Yes, and I don't want to lose this opportunity now, because they come quick and they disappear just as fast yes, that gives me a little of anxiety because of thinking that I have to take advantage of this moment and I'm actually living with my brother.

00:21:59.517 --> 00:22:12.160
<v Speaker 2>But I had to find a place for myself because the house is a mess with the fabrics and materials, yeah, it's crazy.

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.741
<v Speaker 2>It's crazy.

00:22:12.741 --> 00:22:16.994
<v Speaker 2>So I'm actually moving next week to a bigger place.

00:22:16.994 --> 00:22:26.308
<v Speaker 2>I have one person helping me and another one coming next week when I have the other plane.

00:22:27.915 --> 00:22:31.286
<v Speaker 1>Are you still including handwritten thank yous, oops.

00:22:33.595 --> 00:22:38.457
<v Speaker 2>But a shorter ones, because yeah, but you are no.

00:22:38.457 --> 00:22:44.584
<v Speaker 2>Thank you, yep Very hard, but especially on Etsy, people appreciate those.

00:22:44.845 --> 00:22:53.893
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, of course people, so I think they appreciate them everywhere, so wow, I have to do it, no matter what.

00:22:54.453 --> 00:22:57.699
<v Speaker 2>And well, the hardest part of all did it.

00:22:57.699 --> 00:23:07.218
<v Speaker 2>All of this has been talking with every single customer, yeah, and make them understand why this piece is handmade.

00:23:07.557 --> 00:23:22.582
<v Speaker 1>It was taking so long to be in but that's why you should do the video updates of how they're being made and I the more you educate the customer, is that you can just send links like here's the update on what's going on with your bag.

00:23:22.582 --> 00:23:23.865
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you show.

00:23:23.865 --> 00:23:25.068
<v Speaker 1>Here's a link to the video.

00:23:25.068 --> 00:23:28.236
<v Speaker 1>Hi, this is where your bag is right now and all your bags.

00:23:28.236 --> 00:23:33.425
<v Speaker 1>Thank you for supporting me, so this way you can keep this dialogue going.

00:23:33.926 --> 00:23:43.807
<v Speaker 2>I have to do that every single morning, like at least two hours just to talk with them and and, like you said, taking pictures.

00:23:43.807 --> 00:23:47.942
<v Speaker 2>And some days I don't have time for social media.

00:23:47.942 --> 00:23:51.512
<v Speaker 2>So I I do my best, right right to do everything.

00:23:51.553 --> 00:23:53.156
<v Speaker 1>Hire your daughter if you can.

00:23:53.156 --> 00:23:54.119
<v Speaker 1>I recommend it.

00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:57.348
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I'm not even kidding, oh my gosh.

00:23:57.348 --> 00:24:00.435
<v Speaker 1>Well, listen, we are here to support you.

00:24:00.435 --> 00:24:08.630
<v Speaker 1>Anyway, I am so excited that I was able to personally get to know you and can say I knew you way back when and there.

00:24:08.630 --> 00:24:17.989
<v Speaker 1>How can we follow you, get more bags and see the wild growth of Marigabi Designs?

00:24:19.096 --> 00:24:29.880
<v Speaker 2>Well, you can follow me and my dispra journey on marigabi design on instagram and you can see my shop on etsy.

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:36.130
<v Speaker 2>It's marigabi designs and well, um, we'll be happy to see you all there.

00:24:36.130 --> 00:24:53.746
<v Speaker 2>Any advice you have, I would be happy to talk with other designers and we, thanks to you, we have a pretty pretty community and they have all been very supportive.

00:24:54.255 --> 00:24:56.519
<v Speaker 1>Well, I am like I said.

00:24:56.519 --> 00:25:00.107
<v Speaker 1>When I see talent, I'm here to support it and watch it grow.

00:25:00.107 --> 00:25:05.663
<v Speaker 1>So, thank you so much for being part of the Handbag Designer 101 podcast and we're here to see how you grow.

00:25:05.663 --> 00:25:07.807
<v Speaker 1>Thanks for listening.

00:25:07.807 --> 00:25:13.163
<v Speaker 1>Don't forget to rate and review, and follow us on every single platform at Handbag Designer.

00:25:13.163 --> 00:25:14.066
<v Speaker 1>Thanks so much.

00:25:14.066 --> 00:25:15.067
<v Speaker 1>See you next time.