Rising Stars: Meet Gabriela Recalde of LA/NYC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Recalde.

Hi Gabriela , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
At 19, Paraguayan Gabriela Recalde arrived in California as an au pair with no English, a small suitcase, and big dreams. The cultural shock was intense — far from her family, food, and life in Asunción — but she adapted while working as a nanny, studying English, and sharing her love of fashion on Instagram. As her language skills grew, so did her following. She interned with Anthropologie, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macys and attended New York Fashion Week, and began partnering with major brands like Marshalls, L’Oréal, Revolve, Dior, and Prada.

Eager to show Paraguayan culture to the world starting at Coachella – Gabriela launched her brand in 2023, a fashion brand built around ñandutí, the intricate Paraguayan lace that means “spiderweb” in Guaraní. “My first video wearind Ñanduti went VIRAL” Gabriela mentioned.
Despite working remotely from the US and coordinating with artisans in Paraguay via WhatsApp, her collections resonated. Events in LA and New York drew crowds, and collaborations with Paraguayan creatives sold out instantly. In 2025, her work with Marshalls landed her on a Times Square billboard labeled “Gabriela from Paraguay” — a milestone she sees as visibility for her entire country. Now rebranding GR to Momorã showcase more of Paraguay’s cultural richness, Gabriela’s mission is clear: carry her heritage into everything she does and open doors for others, proving you can live far from home and still honor where you’re from.

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 hasn’t been a smooth road for Gabriela. At 19 she arrived in California as an au pair with no English, no privilege, and no safety net — no family or friends nearby to rely on — which made adapting “incredibly hard.” She dealt with intense cultural shock, living far from her family, food, and life in Paraguay, all while navigating an unfamiliar language and customs on her own. Later, building her brand GR from the US came with logistical challenges too — she has to coordinate with Paraguayan artisans remotely through WhatsApp and her family because “there are many difficulties because I am far away.” On top of that, she often encountered people who didn’t even know where Paraguay was, which pushed her to create something that represented her country. Despite starting with no privilege or support system in the US, she adapted, built an online community, and turned her heritage into a global brand.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a content creator and fashion entrepreneur. I specialize in storytelling through style — specifically, using fashion to spotlight Paraguayan culture and craftsmanship. I’m known for my brand built around Ñanduti, the intricate, spiderweb-like lace handcrafted in Paraguay for centuries.

My work bridges two worlds: I create content for 170K+ followers across Instagram and TikTok, and I collaborate with brands like Marshalls, L’Oréal, Revolve, Dior, and Prada. But what sets me apart is that everything I do is rooted in representation. When I started attending fashion events, people often didn’t know where Paraguay was. So I built my brand to change that — to give Paraguay a visual language on the global stage.

What I’m most proud of is seeing that impact. We’ve sold out collections made with Paraguayan artisans and Latina models. In 2025, I was featured on a Times Square billboard for Marshalls as “Gabriela from Paraguay.” For me, that moment wasn’t just personal — it was visibility for an entire country that’s often overlooked.

What sets me apart is that I didn’t start with connections, English, or a safety net in the US. I came here at 19 as an au pair. Everything I’ve built came from adapting, learning, and staying proud of where I’m from. My mission now is to expand my brand Momorã beyond Ñanduti, grow our artisan partnerships, and open doors for other Paraguayans and Latinas. You can live far from your country and still carry your culture in everything you do — that’s what guides me every day.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that you can live far from your country and still carry your culture in everything you do.

When I arrived in California at 19, I had no English, no family nearby, and it was incredibly hard to adapt. I thought I had to choose between building a life here and staying connected to home. But building Momorã taught me the opposite. The moment I started weaving ñandutí and Paraguay’s story into my work, everything clicked. Seeing Paraguayans abroad buy our pieces, or watching a Times Square billboard say “Gabriela from Paraguay” — that showed me that your roots aren’t a limitation. They’re your compass.

So the lesson is this: you don’t leave your identity behind to succeed. You lead with it. Representing my country and opening the way for other Latinas is what motivates me most, and it’s what turns the hardest parts of the journey into purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.momoraofficial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielarec
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gabriela.recalde