Exploring Life & Business with Mariana Corella of Hype and Vice

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Corella.

Hi Mariana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in San José, Costa Rica, the oldest of three siblings and a loving dog-aunt. I grew up visiting Southern California yearly, I remember instantly feeling an innate connection with the places, culture, and people here, being in some ways similar but at the same time so different from Costa Rica. I never imagined that one day I would actually get to live here, much less that I would call it my home. I moved to LA in 2016 to obtain my undergraduate degree at USC, which, as a first-generation college graduate, is one of my proudest accomplishments to this day. At USC, I met two young, driven entrepreneurs who hired me to work at their small apparel start-up (I was their first hire). Little did I know the amazing ride that it would take me on, filled with surprises, laughs, cries, and lots of hard work. Being part of a company from its modest beginnings and seeing it grow (making mistakes, learning from them, and making even more mistakes) is the most fulfilling and gratifying experience.

The path that has led me to where I am today is no small part due to the mixed influence of my parents.

I saw my father build a successful business by doing what he loves most in the world: surfing. Over thirty years ago, my dad would take surf trips to California and return with duffel bags full of surf paraphernalia to sell and cover his expenses. Gradually, he became the go-to guy for “Tico” surfers wanting to look the part. His bags transformed into shipments; his surf shop was his first child and I was his second. I took my first steps among bikinis and boardshorts, which is where my love for fashion began. As a child, I would go to tradeshows with him and mark up catalogs, marvel at the designs, and absorb as much as I could about fabrics, fits, and collections.

My mom stayed at home to raise us. She gave me the confidence and guidance to always choose my own path and follow my interests. She always made me feel safe with every big decision I would take and made sure I never felt the pressure to fit into a certain box. Her unending support, even from afar, is what allows me to do what I love every day.

My dad’s influence and mom’s nurture are the reason I am where I am today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Moving to a new country on my own at a young age definitely had its challenges. As excited as I was to attend my dream school, I remember feeling insecure in classes about speaking up because of my accent. Even though I had fluently learned English in school before moving here, I still somehow felt like an outsider whenever I spoke out. My own insecurities and self-doubt continued through college and limited the opportunities that I looked for myself. Luckily, as I spent more time in such a diverse city as Los Angeles, I encountered professionals from around the world, which made me realize it was possible to succeed sounding like me and even better, be proud of it.

We’ve been impressed with Hype and Vice, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sure! Hype and Vice is a start-up that specialized in women’s collegiate apparel. It all started from a need to innovate college clothing for women, which was a completely male-dominated industry, to create cute and trendy pieces that girls would actually want to wear around campus. The brand started from a dorm room and evolved into a fully operating company. We are unique because we understand what our audience wants because, not too long ago, we were in their shoes. The one thing that I am most proud of about our company is that we are Latina women-owned and most of our staff is too. This is important to me because as a Latina woman myself I constantly find myself looking for examples of others who have succeeded for inspiration and motivation to know that it is possible.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest in life is spending time with my family. Since I don’t get to see them every day, I truly cherish the time that we do get together. My 13-year-old brother, Emilio, is like my twin and my sister, Mar, my best friend; so they are the two people who I most enjoy spending time with.

Contact Info:

• Website: hypeandvice.com
• Instagram: hypeandvice

Image Credits
Barbara Brown