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11 Mexican-Owned Businesses (That Aren't Bars) To Support On Cinco De Mayo

Seriously, put the sombrero down.
Carolina Moreno
By 

Reporter, HuffPost

Despite Latinos’ best efforts to explain the true story behind Cinco de Mayo , it seems nothing will stop fraternities and the general American public from turning the holiday into an excuse to get turnt up.

But we refuse to surrender!

Since the country seems so eager to celebrate Mexican culture, why not channel that festive spirit into supporting the men and women who embody it? So put the margarita down and, instead, treat yourself to an avocado bath bomb, a “ride or die” necklace or a bilingual book for your child.

Here are 11 businesses owned by Mexicans and Chicanos that you can support on Cinco de Mayo:

Hija de tu Madre

We have jackets up to 3XL ✨

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Patty Delgado drew from her childhood experiences as a devout follower of La Virgen de Guadalupe to create the centerpiece of her clothing line for Chicana millennials. The result was a jean jacket with the Virgin of Guadalupe colorfully emblazoned on the back.

“It’s the perfect hybrid of who I am,” Delgado, daughter to immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico, told Vívelo Hoy. “What’s more American than denim and what is more Mexican than La Virgen de Guadalupe? It is meant to promote the messiness of being a young Mexican-American."

Shop at Hija de tu Madre here.
Lil' Libros
Courtesy of Lil Libros
After Patty Rodriguez lost everything in a devastating house fire, she decided to pursue her dream of creating bilingual books for Latina moms and their kids. When she was turned down by publishers and told “Latinos do not read to their children," the senior producer for "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" joined forces with her childhood best friend, Ariana Stein, to create Lil' Libros.

The two Chicana moms have published several baby board books inspired by icons like Frida Kahlo and Celia Cruz, and other Mexican cultural staples like loteria cards and la Virgen de Guadalupe.

“The books aren’t designed to give lengthy, in-depth history lessons, as they're only 22 pages long,” Stein told Forbes. “Instead the goal is to teach the basics, introduce them to culture, and motivate kids to continue learning additional words and languages. The books have always been about starting the bilingual learning journey with subjects that parents feel a connection with.”

Shop for Lil' Libros books here.
Valfré
Valfre.com
Los Angeles-based designer Ilse Valfré launched her women's apparel and accessories brand in 2013. Many of the Tijuana-born artists' pieces, like her popular Mazapan pin, are inspired by her culture.

"The Mexican culture places a lot of importance on the power of perseverance," Valfré told HuffPost, in reference to how her culture inspires her work. "We're hardworking people and it's these values that I believe have given me the endurance to stay so committed to my craft."

Shop at Valfré here.
PINetration

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If you're a pin fiend looking to add something creative to your collection, David Aguirre's PINetration shop has the Selena, Vicente Fernandez, Vick's VapoRú and concha designs you've been waiting for. This San Fernando, California-based store popped up on Instagram and Etsy in 2016 and design pins "para la raza."

Shop at PINetration here.
Reina Rebelde
Regina Merson left behind a career as a Yale-educated bankruptcy attorney to establish a makeup line inspired by and for Latinas. The Mexican-born entrepreneur is now the founder and CEO of Reina Rebelde.

"This makeup line was born out of my passion for makeup and extreme pride of my cultural identity as a Latina," Merson wrote in a caption on the company's Instagram page. "Makeup has always been my addiction. Years of makeup hoarding show my collection is equal parts wild and unpredictable, bold and impractical, feminine and luxurious, sexy and severe."

Shop Reina Rebelde here.
Ex-Voto Design
Leslie Gutierrez Saiz is the woman behind Ex-Voto Design, which offers a colorful collection of handmade Chicano-inspired arts and crafts, like heart pins that read "chula" and a "chola hand" pin that's flipping the bird. Bracelets, prints, pillows and more are also sold on its website.

Shop Ex-Voto Design here.
Nalgona Positivity Pride
Gloria Lucas launched Nalgona Positivity Pride in 2014 with the intention of "decolonizing" body positivity and raising eating disorder awareness.

NPP is a multifaceted project that includes a website, access to bilingual resources and an eating disorder support group. It also includes an Etsy store through which Lucas sells T-shirts, buttons and stickers that empower and reflect “Xicana-Brown*-Indigenous" people.

“I just feel a really big need to be creative and to put out there what I’m feeling, what I’m thinking and people are responding to it,” she told HuffPost in April 2016. “It makes it clear that there aren’t many things out there that are meeting our needs as brown people.”

Shop at Nalgona Positivity Pride here.
Somar ATX
Somar ATX is run by Chicanas living in Austin, Texas, who embrace their culture with "Xicana" shirts, "minorities are priorities" totes and "take Trump, bring back Selena" stickers. Even Chicana author Sandra Cisneros is a fan.

Shop at Somar ATX here.
Brewbles Bath Bombs
Bath bombs never looked so tasty. Brewbles Bath Bombs, an Austin-based company, was created by Catheryn Estefania Rodriguez Rangel and is known for its avocado bath bomb. The company also makes their vegan creations in the shape of other Mexican staples like elote and flan.

Shop Brewbles Bath Bombs here.
The Hermosa Co.

Nobody's Pendeja pins have been restocked! Link to Etsy is in our bio!

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This "xicanx owned" business is run by two South California natives living in Oregon. The Hermosa Co. shop is all about providing customers with shiny enamel pins inspired by Mexican culture.

Shop at The Hermosa Co. here.
MALA by Patty Rodriguez

🖤 #pattyrodriguezjewelry

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Celebrities like Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Gina Rodriguez, America Ferrera, and Cristela Alonzo have all been caught wearing pieces from Patty Rodriguez's MALA jewelry collection. The "chingona," "sin miedo" and "ride or die" necklaces are classics in the Chicana entrepreneur's line.

Shop MALA by Patty Rodriguez here.

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