Big Companies You Know and Love:
Target
Target kicks off Latine Heritage Month by encouraging shoppers to browse Latino-owned brands and products in its stores. You can look for a “Latino Owned” icon in the product details to identify these brands.
Shoppers can also look forward to graphic T-shirts celebrating Latine icons such as Juan Gabriel, Celia Cruz, Frida Kahlo, Shakira, Selena and more — a nod to their contributions to the arts and a notable move in their integration into American culture.
Select products can be found at the USC Village location.
Honest
Jessica Alba, an actress of Mexican descent, most well-known for her involvement in the “Fantastic Four” franchise, founded Honest Company in 2012. Its original line of products featured baby products, but the company has branched into skincare, makeup, cleaning products and more.
Beautyblender
Did you know that the woman behind this company — whose namesake product is a staple in makeup bags everywhere — is Latine?
Rea Ann Silva is a Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese and Irish Southern California native, also CEO and founder of Beautyblender. She created the first prototype on the set of the TV sitcom “Girlfriends” while working with other women of color such as Tracee Ellis Ross and Golden Brooks.
Support Small Latine Businesses, Too!
Mi Casita Candle Co.
The scent of Hispanic Heritage Month is in the air with Mi Casita Candle Co.’s creative line of products.
Created by owner Alba Hernandez, the store’s soy candles are available in “tazitas,” “ollitas” and “cazuelitas,” made to mimic Latine dishes.
Perhaps the most notable is the Fabuloso scent, inspired by the iconic cleaning product found in many Latine homes.
Made with Ganas
Now you and your loved ones can express their love and pride for their culture wherever they go with Made with Ganas’ jewelry line. Owner Claudia Hernandez was born and raised in Colorado, though Hernandez’s family is originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico. Check out Made with Ganas and pay homage to your country of origin with vibrant clay earrings mimicking Mexican tiles or conchas!
Shop Mira Clarissa
Find your next sticker obsession and laptop accessories with Shop Mira Clarissa’s catalog. Shop owner, Clarissa, started her business after growing tired of seeing a lack of Latine culture representation in online spaces. Her creations include colorful pop culture references to telenovelas and internet discourse surrounding Spanglish.
A Taste of Latine Culture
Madre Restaurant
Madre, a slice of Oaxacan culture, can be found nestled into several L.A. county neighborhoods: Santa Clarita, Palms, West Hollywood and Torrance. Owner Ivan Vasquez is a Oaxacan native dedicated to providing an authentic dining experience for patrons with his mole and mezcal. Visit Madre here!
Café de Leche
Nicaragua native Anya Schordof and her husband Matt founded Café de Leche to honor Anya’s mother’s daily ritual of drinking “cafes de leche” with instant coffee, milk and a dash of sugar. Café locations include Altadena, Hollywood, Highland Park and at Pasadena City College. They sell whole bean coffee, beverages, sweet treats and offer a coffee subscription service.
La Pawnaderia
This isn’t your typical spot for conchas and puerquitos — not for humans at least! La Pawnaderia is a Latina-owned small business whose mission is to share the joy of biting into a delicious pan dulce with our furry friends. Adriana Montoya launched the company in November 2022, inspired by her Mexican heritage and love for dogs.
We hope this list provided you with an avenue to appreciate Latine culture and give back to its business owners.
Happy Latine Heritage Month from Dímelo!