Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcela Orozco.
Hi Marcela, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in a Mexican household meant that I was a role model ever since I was little. I have the roles of being the oldest daughter and the oldest sister of four other siblings. My parents always implemented the goals and wishes they had for my future as a little girl. My dream was to be a doctor at the age of six, later a nurse and now I am currently attending the California State University of San Bernardino to graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and marketing. This journey in college has had its ups and downs, the biggest obstacle was continuing with my education pandemic in 2020 which impacted the last semester of my freshman year. I worked full-time jobs throughout the pandemic to provide for my tuition cost because I didn’t want to worry my parents about the amount that I needed to continue with my education. My dream was never to work for someone else my entire life, as the oldest, I always wanted more for myself and my family. I started to do some research about how to start my own business once I would get home from work every day. Fashion always had a big impact on me. I admired what people were wearing at the time whether it was trendy clothing to staple pieces etc.
Deep in my heart, I knew that I wanted to do something with fashion and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to finally follow my heart and do what I wanted to do such as working for myself as a business owner and opening my boutique. The first time I stepped into the Los Angeles fashion District, it felt like I belong there it was so exciting. I visited many wholesalers and decided to take some pieces for my first collection. The first investment I made for my first launch was about $150. At the time I was 19 years old and I was really scared to start something new for me and my family but I never let it stop me. It all started with the passion of loving fashion and having the motivation to work hard and be better for my family and me to now being a boutique owner age of 21 years old.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Having your own business is exciting and fun but there are also a lot of things you learn along the way. My business is something I created and I always want the best for it. I put in my hard work, hours, and a lot of dedication for my business to keep growing and to be more recognizable in the Latino community. There is a lot of space for mistakes and growth along the way its not always so easy. I quickly realized that I needed to learn how to manage my time for my business, myself, my family, and my life as a full-time college student. Being disciplined with my schedule has helped me tremendously but when being a full-time college student and business owner which sometimes is very difficult. When professors add unexpected assignments or move dates forward, it impacts our mental health due to a lot of stress. There are also obstacles in the fashion industry that sometimes are not spoken about. There were incidents where I went to a specific wholesaler and was treated very poorly because they would compare me and try to belittle me in a way try to make me feel less every time I wanted to buy several clothing pieces for my store.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pretty Lust is a Latina-owned women’s clothing boutique that elevates your style, allows you to find confidence in your own skin, and gets you ready to take on the day. We are known for bringing out confidence and empowerment within each fashionista. We love helping each woman find their perfect style and outfits that make their inner radiance and confidence shine. We offer an affordable luxury that makes a statement.
What does success mean to you?
Success comes in different ways. It isn’t easy to define success because it’s very different for everybody. My idea of success is being able to be known as someone who is genuine and has helped a lot of women feel confident in their skin through what they wear, and that my store is a place where they can shop knowing where they are going to love and feel confident with every outfit they chose. Success to me is having financial freedom and being able to help my parents have peace of mind financially. I would have my dad stop working after he has worked through his life since he was 8. It is my dream to help provide for my parents and my siblings. Hoping that my siblings can be inspired by my hard work and have their older sister remind them that anything they put their minds to is possible if they are willing to work for it. Finally, I would like to define success as helping the Latino community be more represented. Inspiring all that we are all capable of building the future they always dreamed of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shoprettylust.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoprettylust/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@__marceee
