Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiara and Ciara Martinez.
Hi Tiara and Ciara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We started in the winter of 2019, right before the pandemic started. Initially, we wanted to make things for ourselves, and then our family, and then our friends and before we knew it we were taking special requests and custom orders. When the pandemic hit, we needed a way to combat our winter blues and so we dived into our colorful yarns head first.
It started as presents for our nieces and nephews and then suddenly it was for us and our friends who’s walls were now covered in rainbows. If we had to stay inside to help save lives during a pandemic, we wanted to make it a space that we wanted to be and we soon realized that we were not alone. We have since branched out our line of macrame rainbows to large-scale wall hangings, uterus wall hangings that are a fun way to show women empowerment, party decor, candles, blankets, earrings, and accessories. All designed with sustainable, upcycled materials and handmade in our own home. At our core, we are a couple of dreamers that inspire to spread optimism and empathy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For starters… the pandemic. It totally changed the way we had to market ourselves. Initially, we had hoped to bring our rainbows to pop-up markets and events but stay-at-home orders and social distancing made the first ten months of our business strictly virtual. As social butterflies navigating the online world has been the biggest learning curve.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We hand make fiber art, decor, and accessories using sustainable materials. We believe that just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you have to find the nearest “Live Laugh Love” sign and slap it on a beige wall. At our core, we are maximalists and think every person has their own unique color scheme. We are best known for our rainbow and uterus rope and yarn wall hangings. We care deeply for and love being a part of and helping to cultivate the STL women-owned small business community.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
People that don’t know us are always surprised that there are two of us running the show and that we are identical twins and best friends! We look the same but our personalities and style are as different as each custom rainbow we make… otherwise, people usually think it’s a one-woman show.
Contact Info:
- Email: shoplocalforeign@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LocalForeign?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoplocalforeign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoplocalforeign
