Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Ruiz
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I might be a bit of a curator actually and I’m absolutely a cheerleader and advocate for latinxs and women of color in particular. I went to school for photography, and in school, I found a lot of joy not really in photography, but in creative concepts. When Poco A Poco began, I was pulling from all sorts of venues- I sold fair trade, vintage, and I would buy art and crafts from other people and small businesses I admired wholesale. I had friends who were artists but hated “marketing themselves”- but I love it! When I see someone who’s talented- especially a friend or someone in my community- I want the whole world to know about them and love them as much as I do!! I might also be a bit of a natural sales-woman… so to help out my friends and bring my ideas and concepts to life, I would pay my friends to design different things for me- that I could put on shirts, stickers, mugs, etc.
After the election of 2016, I limited my wholesale ordering and artist collaborators exclusively to other small latinx businesses and artists. I’m very, very good at seeking out artists I admire and approaching them with an idea. I love coming up with something and finding the perfect artist to match the idea- on top of that. I’m putting money back into my community!!! It’s a very reciprocal, mutually beneficial situation. However- it’s not cheap!!! I never wanna short an artist for their work- so I also use my limited skills to design a few of my own things that don’t require illustration. In the same vein, I think I’m also known for constantly promoting others over social media and on my blog through listicles and interviews and features. This gives me a free opportunity to support talented people I find and use my platform for good. At the very least, I can share someone’s work and tag them in my stories. I frequently fundraise through my sales, and although I can’t donate a whole lot- I do hope that getting the word out on different organizations and non-profits and causes helps them too. When I first started selling at pop-ups in 2016- I felt a lack of latinx representation, so I started my own pop ups to bring some more latinx representation to the scene and to ensure there was no culturally insensitivity so everyone could feel safe and respected. Before covid, I ran many markets and pop-up shops here in Austin. I had the monthly Midweek Market that started in 2016, and some other bigger markets that were limited to once a year like Latinx AF and Brujas for Choice. I loved throwing events because they incorporated so many things that I love to do! My main goal was to provide an affordable, accessible space to vend and make money for people like me who can’t afford the more expensive markets, who want to see more diversity and color, and who perhaps work in service so probably have to work through the weekend markets anyway. Additionally- nearly every single market was an opportunity to fundraise for a local organization or cause I, and my community cares about! I’m not sure what will happen “after covid,”- but I like to think I was known for throwing some great parties where my vendors got to hang out and make new friends while making some cash, and we all got to help our community!
I think it’s very important to represent an authentic second-generation xicana, fronteriza experience. Yes, I’m proud to be Mexican American- and yes I recognize and even embrace certain stereotypes that are authentic to my experience- but I also wholeheartedly embrace things that non-latinxs and non-poc might not realize that we latinxs enjoy as much as we do. For instance- I’m a HUGE nerd- and I LOVE Star Wars, so some of my most successful products are in my Star Wars line. I hate when people describe things like sci-fi and fantasy as “white people stuff” because I believe that’s ridiculous gatekeeping, many POC have contributed to those genres, and we as oppressed people can understand and appreciate their lessons in a special way. I was also a bit of an emo kid as a teen- so my My Chemical Romance design is also very popular. My other popular items are my “Calmate Becky” shirt and my “Stop Supporting Abusers” shirt… I think they speak to a lot of frustrated people like myself. I hope Poco A Poco and my designs and products are known for being undeniably latina, nerdy, strongly feminist, fun, millenial, relatable, with a dash of humor.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My closest friends are my biggest cheerleaders- although I do Poco A Poco alone, simply having a small group of close friends to bounce design ideas off of has been incredibly helpful! My friends Kim, Elena, and Priscilla are always and have always been there for me to turn to when I’m frustrated or confused or in need of an extra set of eyes. In addition to all being Latina millennials and in that way, my target audience- I trust them with every fiber of my being to help me make some of my most significant and most difficult decisions. My family and my culture and my community offer constant inspiration. I wouldn’t be who I am and doing Poco A Poco if it weren’t for my family history, my mestiza ancestry, and my upbringing on the border in El Paso. I’m so grateful to be who I am and to come from such a vibrant culture and place. The artists that I’ve commissioned for my wacky ideas, of course! Some of them are (all on Instagram): @cari_guev, @nairetni, @own.the.sky, @dezisartvibes, @viva.la.mocha, and @vivalapainter! The non-profits I’ve worked with within the past and who I aspire to work with and fundraise for in the future inspire me with their work and also deserve a lot of credit!! I’ve always enjoyed working with Lilith Fund here in Austin- and one of my favorite groups to work with so far has been Fund Texas Choice. Sarah Lopez, who I’m related to thru marriage, was EXTREMELY helpful in setting up last year’s “Brujas for Choice” fundraiser and is a non-profit dream collaborator! As I’ve said, my big drive is advocating for talented latinxs and WOC- and it warms my heart to receive love and support back from my online community, other small latinx business owners and artists, and customers. I’m very open, honest, and vulnerable through Poco A Poco- because it’s an extension of me- and when I recently let my online community know that I had lost my job due to covid- I felt such a rush of overwhelming support in a variety of ways! I’m still so floored with gratitude!
Contact Info:
- Email: pocoapocoatx@gmail.com
- Website: mercadopocoapoco.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mercadopocoapoco
Image Credits
Unice Fernandez
