Hidden Gems: Meet Claudia Carreño of Dream Beachwear Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Carreño.

Claudia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a first-generation Mexican American. My parents have always worked very hard for me to have more opportunities than they did. Since I was young, I always liked helping people and fashion. I became a preschool teacher and loved my job. Although I love my job, I always wanted my own business. During quarantine in March was the first time I worked from home and had time to think of what other projects I wanted to explore. Since a child, I wanted a fashion line but was too scared and had no idea how to start it. I took time to brainstorm and within a month, I was ready to do it. I figured there is never a perfect time but for me, it was a good time to start Dream Beachwear Boutique.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a brand from scratch and not having a large budget has definitely been hard! I am a preschool teacher so I had no prior knowledge of marketing. It has been a journey and I continue to learn so much! So far, I have done everything myself from website to social media. It has been a rocky road but I am enjoying every bump in the way.

As you know, we’re big fans of Dream Beachwear Boutique. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Dream Beachwear Boutique was born in late April 2020 during the quarantine. Like many people, I had a lot of free time to think about life and what I enjoy. I love to travel but I also love fashion and business. For years I have thought I would like to have a boutique one day, in late April I decided why wait for someday if I can make it happen now. That is how my journey started to create Dream Beachwear Boutique. Dream Beachwear Boutique is not just about fashion it is about the whole woman, it is a lifestyle brand. I created the brand to make women feel empowered, beautiful, confident, and free. Catering to mostly swimwear and beachwear, I wanted the collections to be different than other brands. Sexy is not in my fashion vocabulary. There is so much more to fashion than being sexy, the most important is to feel comfortable in your own skin. In order to feel comfortable, you need to be confident. I find that the best way to feel confident is through the clothes you wear. This is why at Dream, I use the words chic, flirty, fun instead of sexy. We are women and do not need to feel sexualized to feel and look amazing!

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can support and collaborate with me by supporting my brand Dream Beachwear Boutique. The best way is by posting on their social media for more people can see my website and what Dream is about. Being a small business all support and collaborations are important and necessary in order for my brand to grow.

Pricing:

• Everything under $40

Contact Info:

• Email: dreambeachwearboutique@gmail.com
• Website: www.DreamBeachwearBoutique.com
• Instagram: Shopdreambeachwearboutique
• Facebook: Dreambeachwearboutique

Image Credits:
Rodolfo Aguilar David Northcott Rogelio Perez