Mireya Gómez de la Torre on Launching a Conscious and Sustainable Fashion Line

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

I’m the founder and creative director of Taarach. Taarach is a brand that seeks to rescue and spread timeless textiles tradition through contemporary products. Everything I do is inspired by craft, folklore, and traditions. I am on the mission to change people’s way of looking and appreciating fashion. I am part of the slow fashion, conscious, and sustainable segment. I start making one-of-a-kind belts out of indigenous faja bands. I plan to expand the line since the belt category is a small one and has been decreasing in the past years. TAARACH® produces unique products in small quantities. We design our belts out of one of the most timeless elements of the Andean communities’ typical costume: the “faja.” Ethnics groups use fajas as a decorative or mythical element; to show status, power, or elegance and for medical purposes. All our fajas are handmade in wooden looms by artisans from the Ecuadorian highlands. I believe in giving back to the community. For Taarach, I created a program called “One 1 One”, which donates one lunch to one child for one month

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

I would love to expand my network and learn from other experiences.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I created TAARACH® following my passion and love for fashion, folklore and crafts. I believe that each product that becomes part of our lives brings more than a look. It reveals who we are, makes us unique, comes with a history, an energy and generates impact.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I am a marketer and business administrator by profession, fashion designer technician as a second career. My experience is mainly in consumer and beauty markets.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Yes, since I was little I loved it.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I started a few years ago my accessories brand Taarach and my empirical apprenticeship in the fashion market. I started with social media and e-commerce strategy. It did not go as planned because in the beginning I planned to create a more massive brand, but with the pandemic and new learning, I decided to become a more niche brand.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?

My biggest challenge is reaching my consumers and convincing them to spend on the belt. Unfortunately, the belts category is small and has decreased more after the pandemic. So now, I have to expand the line to maintain the brand life.

What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?

I accomplished many things, especially considering I primarily work alone with a very tight budget. Taarach has been featured in different media, and the biggest one is that Taarach won the Design Excellence award 2020 from Accessories Council.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

Yes, I do. My best tip is that by feeling proud of yourself, you will be able to create, work, and accomplish whatever you dream of. Never give up, and believe that you can do anything you propose to yourself with effort and perseverance.

What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?

You need to invest to grow.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

Being feature in HolaTV!

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Expand Taarach line with new products and launch a new brand.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!