Everywhere you go these days, love seems to be in the air. Heart decorations have gone up all over and the love songs flowing from the speakers in the dining halls don’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Around every holiday season, there seems to be an emphasis on shopping from small businesses, but Dímelo understands it’s hard to find the time to search for quality gifts as a college student, especially with midterms fast approaching. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of things perfect for the Activist, Self Care Lover, Foodie, or Jewelry Lover in your life.
The Activist:
1. Barrio Drive: Stickers and Apparel
Whether your love is into apparel or stickers, if they’re an activist, they will adore Barrio Drive. They’re a Latine undocumented-owned small business focused on supporting all Latines. Their merch powers their DACA Fund, which helps provide money to those renewing their temporary status. Their shop includes empowering stickers like ‘La sanación no es lineal’ and ‘No pasa nada, todo tranki,’ there’s just no way to go wrong.
2. Brown and Proud: Hats and Apparel
Founded by Mexico City Native Carlos Guzman, Brown and Proud exists to ensure the representation of the entirety of the Latine diaspora. His clothing line speaks to both pride in Latine relationships and in being”the flowers that go unwatered and still blossom.” With their hat everyone will know what your cariño stands for and with everyone in their community.
3. Daughters of Latin America \ Hijas de América Latina
Stories collected by Afro-Indigenous journalist Sandra Guzmán, Daughter of Latin America is an anthology featuring 140 Latine voices from around the world. It focuses on those who have constantly been erased from feminist movements and literature, especially Afro-Latina and Indigenous Latines. Available at your local bookstore like Skylight Books and on Amazon. (And it’s available in English and Spanish!)
The Self Care Lover:
1. Luz y Tierra: Candles
These adorable candles from Luz y Tierra will help the amorcito you hold closest to your heart feel relaxed with the smell of café de olla floating through the air. Luz y Tierra partners with artisans in Mexico to provide customers with pieces of art along with an absence of plastics within their wax. Their valentine’s collection is sure to make sparks fly.
2. Living Spanglish: Motivational Posters
Sometimes life gets hard and we need a little something to remind ourselves of why we’re chasing after our goals. That’s why these posters are perfect for someone special in your life! Designed by a first generation Latina, the posters have a pleasing and minimalistic design that screams “heartwarming.” You can buy them and print them out for your queridé to hang on their wall.
3. Nopalera: Skin Care
After a long week, we all need to reset somehow, what better way to do so than to use Nopalera’s cactus flower exfoliant. Founded by Sandra Velasquez, Nopalera is made to represent the feeling of power having nopales gave her as a child near the U.S.-Mexican border. Coming in both hibiscus and mandarina, both will help in resetting your valentine’s mind and skin. (and you’ll be supporting a Latina owned brand).
The Foodie:
1. Cipota Coffee: Coffee
If your valentine is a coffee lover, no te preocupes, Cipota Coffee has you covered. Created by Gardenia Rosales as an homage to her Salvadoran heritage, you can order one of their 12oz bags sourced directly from El Salvador or take your sweetheart to have a cup in person at Arroz and Fun, located on 1822 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031.
2.Hiraya Home and Kitchen: Aprons
These aprons are perfect for when you and your partner want to have a night in and cook or maybe they just watched “The Bear,” and want to channel their inner Carmy. Either way, they’ll definitely look like a professional buying from this store focused on modern minimalism.
1. Naomi Jewels Boutique: Matching Necklaces
Para the other half of your heart, these are the perfect statement piece for their (and your) collection. Founded in 2020 and named after the owner’s daughter Naomi, these pieces made by artisans in Mexico are perfect to keep your two hearts whole while you’re apart.
2. FrankCharlie: Jewelry Tray
Founded in 2018, by a sea lover focused on unique pieces, this jewelry tray is the perfect gift to make sure your partner’s jewelry doesn’t get lost at sea! Plus, you can tell them that you’re giving them your heart.
We hope this gift guide has provided you with something perfect for the special person in your life all while feeling confident that your money is going back to small business owners, many of whom are Latine.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Dímelo!