Born and raised in the El Sereno neighborhood, Vanessa Gutierrez is not only an entrepreneur but an advocate for her community. In early March, the city recognized the meaningful, ongoing difference she continues to make through her boutique and outreach, and honored her with the CD14 Woman of Impact award.
Over the last couple of years, she has expanded her boutique’s mission to give more love to her community and give back through service and engagement.
The boutique was founded on December 12, 2020. At the time, Gutierrez was working with LA County Public Works and feeling a bit “unfulfilled”. During the pandemic, she “...felt a lot of heartbreak… saw a lot of pain and loss… and really wanted to give more love to [her] community…[and herself]."
Despite studying business at Cal State Monterey Bay and earning her Associate of Arts at East Los Angeles Community College, the idea for the boutique did not occur to her until a few years after completing her studies. Partially because she felt the world of entrepreneurship was out of reach.
She said, “Being first-gen, being young…in my family the dream [was] stability, benefits, being able to be comfortable…and that’s good! But for me, I always knew I wanted more.”
After researching and realizing that the domain Mas Amor was available, Gutierrez considered it a sign, a confirmation that told her to go all in.
“I had to do something different,” she said, “… Everything that I had been doing was not working for me…[With this] I get to give más amor, not only to others but also to myself…The journey has taught me that you can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Gutierrez took the initiative and created her website using online resources to launch her business. Through multiple pop-ups, she put herself and her brand out there, gradually growing Mas Amor.
Gutierrez shows her cultural pride in her pieces and in her community-oriented goals. “Fashion is political,” she states, “... At a time where our culture is appreciated and used but not credited... Using pieces from our culture is very powerful, it’s a statement that we are here.”
According to her website, she initially donated 12% of each piece sold to charity. With the earnings from her first couple of launches, she collaborated with Sid Rea, her friend and the founder of Elephant Hill Cafe Bakery, to provide food and coffee for unhoused people in El Sereno.
They now co-coordinate the El Sereno Night Market together from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. every Wednesday, ensuring a lively experience filled with music, different cuisines, and space for new shared memories. A space for friends and neighbors to gather and unwind.
Through social media and community events, Gutierrez and Rea draw more attention to the night market and advocate for their local vendors during times of political distress.
Gutierrez stated she’s “most proud” of Rea and her fundraising endeavor to help vendors “pay their rent… and help put food on the table. [As well as earning] the trust from the community to want to… donate.”
Lizbeth Castaneda works at her family’s business, Churros Los Paisitas, Estilo Navarro. They’ve been vendors at the Night Market for 4 years now. Castaneda said the Night Market has had a “big impact” on the community.
“[Gutierrez and Rea] have helped us vendors in many ways…in some ways I see them as family,” she stated.
“[The Night Market] has always been something that the community needed, it still needs it, and the people want it,” said Rea.
For Rikki Chavez, also born and raised in the neighborhood, “It’s nice to have a common ground to go to. To have something consistent and embedded in all the lifestyle culture here in El Sereno.”
Gutierrez’s story, as well as Rea’s story–their ambition to start something new for themselves and give back to their village–reminds us that there is an ever-growing space for Latine voices in entrepreneurship. That pursuing passion and simultaneously giving back to others is possible.
Gutierrez’s advice to young, aspiring CEOs out there is to “Have a really strong why. A strong why is the light that keeps you going…. [It takes] Consistency… In the entrepreneurship route, nothing is easy, but it is very rewarding.”
Gutierrez’s work aligns with her values. She states she feels successful because she is, “... making a difference…making women feel beautiful…The fact that I get to live my life and sustain myself… Business has been a very spiritual experience for me; I’ve had to face myself many, many times.”
The growth of her boutique and her impact only further highlight this resilience. Gutierrez’s journey shows that persistence is more than failure. With grit, work ethic, and the discipline to keep learning, then heartache, grief, and devastation can become a pillar of strength.
Her boutique features pink walls, gold portraits, and mirrors that strive for a fierce and elegant atmosphere. The clothing and accessory pieces are vintage and secondhand, perfect for various occasions: casual wear, a Friday-night outfit, or a very cute picnic outfit.
“I like to describe [the style of the store] as cute, classy, with a hint of sexy,” she stated.
The boutique is open for appointments throughout the week and accepts walk-ins on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. Just recently, she launched her vibrant spring and summer collection with a variety of different pieces- sparkly, crocheted, some body-hugging, and others flowy.
A diverse range of clothing selection to choose from, designed to be inclusive and accommodate what feels right and confident to the first-time or longtime loyal customer.
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet to shop, or if you want to have a mini runway show con las amigas over a cafecito from Elephant Hill Cafe Bakery nearby, then this is the perfect spot. The perfect spot to experiment with what feels right and confident for you, meet new people, and share kindness.
“Mas Amor” is more than a boutique, just like the Night Market is more than a night market. These are pillars in the El Sereno community that draw a village together and create meaningful friendships and memories that last a lifetime.
48905A Huntington Dr. N. LA 90032