Inspiring Conversations with Fabiola Lara of tlali•pani

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabiola Lara. 

Fabiola, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My husband Sabith and I come from cultures with strong craft traditions– India and Mexico. We both come from families that promoted learning and education but also appreciation for traditions, handcrafted pieces, and respect for the people making them. 

As published authors, researchers, educators, and avid travelers ourselves, we saw a gap in people’s knowledge and understanding of rich craft traditions and the economic as well as cultural importance of these crafts to the communities. We started tlali•pani with the idea to not only provide premium quality, sustainable, and ethically handcrafted home goods produced slowly in small quantities, but also to share the knowledge and insights around these crafts for more socially conscious living. 

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?
It has by no means been smooth. Our main challenge as a small business is access to capital. Another key challenge that we constantly face is convincing others of the value of handmade goods given the fast, consumerist culture we live in that favors cheaply made products rooted in business models that are exploitative toward people and the environment. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are most proud about partnering with 100% women-led artisan families and women entrepreneurs. Our strength also lies in combining traditional craft processes experimenting with innovative direct-trade models and forward-looking design methods in all that we do. 

How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
You can support us by purchasing directly from our website– each purchase enables us to continue collaborating with our partner women-led artisan families and women entrepreneurs. You can also join our community by subscribing to our updates directly on our website. We are open to collaborations with brands that share our values of quality, caring for people and the environment and innovation. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tlalipani.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlalipani
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tlalipani
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tlalipani
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tlalipani9796

Image Credits
Eva Lépiz
Yaquelin Hernandez