Fearlessly Facing Fifty And Beyond

EP204: Fashion with a Soul: How One Woman's Courage Created Something Meaningful

• Amy Schmidt • Season 3 • Episode 204

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And the F WORD IS: FASHION

Fearlessly Facing Fashion as we age with Fashion designer, Karla Murguia, Founder of the Montsera Collective. Karla's story is a masterclass in following your soul's calling, no matter how daunting the journey might seem. From her comfortable position as a digital editor at Elle magazine in Mexico to the bold decision to start over in New York City, Karla demonstrates what happens when we choose courage over comfort.

The conversation unfolds like a vivid tapestry, revealing how Karla's fearless spirit led her from prestigious fashion houses in Manhattan to remote villages in Chiapas, Mexico. There, she formed profound connections with indigenous women artisans who create magnificent textiles using backstrap looms—a technique they've learned since childhood. These artisans don't simply create fabric; they weave their cultural identity, community markers, and ancestral symbolism into every piece.

What strikes you most about Karla's journey is her unwavering commitment to authentic collaboration. When taxi drivers refused to take her to villages protected by armed guards, she walked alone toward uncertainty. When communication barriers arose with artisans who speak Mayan dialects, she learned key phrases to honor their culture. Rather than imposing her designs, she invites the weavers' creative wisdom into every piece, establishing relationships built on mutual respect rather than exploitation.

The Montsera Collective represents something far more significant than beautiful clothing—it's a bridge between worlds, a preservation of heritage, and a model for ethical fashion. As Karla's father wisely advised her, "Burn your boats"—commit fully to your path without the safety net of retreat. Through periods of doubt and tears, she persevered, understanding that meaningful success is "a marathon, not a sprint."

Ready to be inspired by courage in action? Listen now, and perhaps you'll find yourself questioning: what circles in your life might open into horseshoes, creating space for unexpected magic to enter?

Connect with Karla Murguia and the Montsera Collection  here

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Ready to FEARLESSLY FACE all the F WORDS - be inspired and encouraged?

Get a copy of Amy's Best selling book: CANNONBALL! FEARLESSLY Facing Midlife an

Ready to FEARLESSLY FACE all the F WORDS – be inspired and encouraged?

Get a copy of Amy’s Best selling book: CANNONBALL! FEARLESSLY Facing Midlife and Beyond here

Fearlessly Facing Fifty and Beyond has over 200 episodes with inspiration and stories to age fearlessly and connect confidently to others thriving at midlife and beyond.

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Speaker 1:

Hey, fearless friends, it's Amy Schmidt and I am back today with an amazing episode. I didn't say exciting, I said amazing because this was going to be amazing. And you know, what we talk about so often in life is, especially as women, we go through life in circles. We truly do. We choose comfort over courage and a lot of times, if we would just open our circles to a horseshoe, that's what it's all about. And today we're going to be talking about one of those F-words fearlessly facing. We're facing fashion today.

Speaker 1:

But even more importantly, I think you will see through this conversation that everybody has such an interesting story and when you open your circle to a horseshoe and you allow those conversations to flow and you listen to the story that that person is telling you, magic happens. So I'm super excited today to have with me someone I just met. How crazy is that to all the listeners and viewers? I literally just met through one of my best friends. I'd like you to meet Carla Marguella. I got it right. Yes, I even said Marguella. I'm so thrilled to welcome you here, thank you. Thank you for having me, amy, you're so welcome.

Speaker 1:

And it's funny because we had coffee yesterday and I said choosing comfort over courage. Choosing courage over comfort is really what it's about. Right, we need to be more courageous. We need to open the dialogue with people that you just never know where it's going to go. Yeah, so Carla has an amazing story, so we're going to talk about that, and Carla is a fashion designer that has just an incredible passion that aligned with her purpose, so let's dig into it. So first of all, just do a little brief intro. Maybe you know 30, 45 seconds of who you are for everybody out there watching.

Speaker 2:

Well, I'm Carla Murguia I love the way you say that, carla Murguia from Mexico. My hometown is Guadalajara. I lived there until I was in Mexico City. I did my my career there until I decided to. You know what? I was working for Elle magazine. I was a digital editor there and then one day I said, you know what, this is not what I want to stay, I want to just do something bigger. I want, like, a fashion was my passion. Also. It was New York. So I said you know what, like one day I want to, I want to live there. I want to live there. So I apply for Parsons to my master's and I decided to literally pack my bags when I got accepted, go to New York when I didn't know anybody and then just start my fashion career there. I went to start from scratch everything, doing internships, when I already have like five to six years of experience in Mexico. Start from scratch with internships and from literally the bottom of wow, sales and everything.

Speaker 1:

Everything, yeah, exactly Learning the business, yeah. So if I were to ask your mom, she was sitting here, would she say Carla always loved fashion. She always was that fashion one. Would she say that?

Speaker 2:

I don't think so, but she would say that I was always the one who was willing to do something, like every time when I was just like you know what, I want to do this, I was doing it. Yeah, I want to do this, I was doing it. So I was always kind of like I could say, the black sheep of my family in terms of always doing something different than everyone else in my family did, which is leaving my hometown when I was 18, then moving to a different country when I didn't know anybody.

Speaker 2:

I always loved fashion, yes, but I never thought I was going to really work in the fashion industry. Yeah, a risk taker yes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think that's funny because I think so often women will say, oh, I don't like to take risks, I don't want to step out of my comfort zone, and you did that by leaving your country, by getting to New York. So take me to that moment in New York. You get there and you're like okay, now I'm here, like now what?

Speaker 2:

Well, I started, I knew that I wanted to. If I wanted to find a job, I had to start doing internships. I've always been the person that I always try to say what is my goal, so what I have to do to get into that goal. So I knew, okay, if I want to find a job here, what is going to be the first steps. So I knew that I have to have internships. So I literally, with no connections, not networking, not nothing start having sending hundreds of resumes every day after school and after studying, just to wait for that opportunity, just to, you know, have something. To just start steaming clothing, like doing literally everything, just to start having my step into the fashion industry Right While I was also studying full-time. Isn't that amazing?

Speaker 1:

You know, not in the fashion industry, but when I published my book, when I sent off that manuscript so many times and it came back, rejected, interested, no, no, too many things like this. No, you don't have a chance. Nope, not well written enough, not this, not that, constantly.

Speaker 2:

I'm sure that was like that with your resume, right, you're sending it out, you're getting rejected yeah, I mean, they always used to just I used to just get all these interviews and then say you have a great experience that we don't know. So you know, like it was always something that probably gave me and kind of gave me that shake, thinking about should I just go back to my country?

Speaker 2:

Should I just continue going what I was doing there. Go back. Because in then in Elle magazine they told me you know that you are always welcome here, so you can come back. But I was that's pretty fabulous it is.

Speaker 2:

It is, yeah, that shows your reputation, your hard work, yeah, your commitment, yes, um, but I was also like saying, like, if I go back like that's it right, it's not like, uh, I always been trying to push and I I did it like I got my very first job after many internships that, as you know, in the fashion industry they are not paid Right, so it's like start from scratch as an assistant in wholesale, which, as I say, like I already have experience and many years that I really dedicated to build my resume in Mexico, but I didn't care. I didn't care to start from scratch.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I think that's so fabulous Tenacity, resilience, fearlessness and risk-taking and that can come with time. So, for people that are listening or watching and saying, oh yeah, I have this dream, I want to do this, but I just don't think I can, that stops so many people from pursuing their passion. So I applaud you for pushing through that because it comes with challenge. So let's talk about fearlessness. Let's talk about what your collection, monsera right, is it like Monsera?

Speaker 2:

Is that how you say it, monsera?

Speaker 1:

It's beautiful and I first got a glimpse into it with one of my dear friends here and she immediately texted me after she met you and this is one of my dearest, oldest friends. She said, Amy, I just bought this incredible piece of clothing that I want you to see, but I want you to meet Carla because there's a story there you've got to just uncover. So let's talk about this. You've launched this collective yes.

Speaker 1:

And it is all really supporting artisans in Mexico. So let's walk through that. First of all, let's walk through exactly what this collective is and how you support those artisans, and then I want to talk about your trip there. I want to talk about that because that's a whole story trip there.

Speaker 2:

I want to talk about that because that's a whole story. So, working in the fashion industry, I just for many years, I just saw like I was doing something that I like and something that I always try to pursue. But then I was feeling kind of empty, like knowing that I was doing something, but it wasn't giving me that happiness, right. So I say I want to do something that is meaningful for me and meaningful for the people that I, that they are from my country, right, like I. Just you see all these beautiful fabrics and everything from other countries and they're so proud to say made in Italy, made in France, and everything. And then I would say why I cannot have something that it says made in Mexico, that it says made in Mexico?

Speaker 2:

So I wanted to just go back and just with all the experience that I have which it wasn't in the fashion, as a fashion designer, it was more in the sales, because I was always more focused in business. But what I told you like is for me was what I have to do in order to be a designer. So I started, went to study London, I did fashion design because my very first sketches which are terrible.

Speaker 2:

I was just like no one is going to understand. I want to see those sketches. You will see it like I, literally you have to start somewhere. It was exactly, and I I started like literally just doing things and no one I, I, I used to send them to artisans and they're like I don't understand.

Speaker 2:

So I have to send sometimes pictures, but then I have to say something. The artisans and they're like I don't understand. So I have to send sometimes pictures, but then I have to say something. The artisans, they don't like copying. So they, as soon as they knew okay, I was sending a picture, I was like, okay, something like this, but it's not like that. They were like I'm sorry, like we don't do that because it's not something that we like to do. We like to create something that is unique and something that comes from you, comes from us. So then I say I have to stop before I start everything and do fashion design.

Speaker 2:

So I did like these, like six months of fashion design. Then I went back to Mexico and then I started working with them. It took me almost a year for them to just start trusting me, especially because there have been so many people that they go take advantage of them. They go and they say we're going to give you a job, you're going to be working, you're going to be doing this and we will pay you your fair amount. And then after a few months they say well, you know what? What if you just start lowering your rates or do this or do that and they just don't give them that credit, that they do Right, right, and they speak a different language and they speak a different language.

Speaker 2:

I learned that yesterday.

Speaker 1:

I thought that was really.

Speaker 2:

It's a different dialect, it's a dialect from the Mayan, so it's Sotzil and Seltal. So I only talk to one of the kind of like it's not represented but it's like who can actually translate between them and myself, which now I try to get some ideas and get some words that they say, because I want them to feel that I'm also involved with their culture, like I don't want them just to feel.

Speaker 2:

So sometimes I say can you please tell me how do you say this star or how do you say this? Because every single symbol that they create, they create it for something. It comes from an inspiration, from something that they got, inspired by nature, or something that they hear when they're like I don't know, like washing their clothes, something like that. So I always ask them how do you say this? Can you please spell it for me? And then the next time when I design something and I incorporate that design or that symbol, I say can you please put?

Speaker 1:

and then I say it for them and they just get so happy. That's amazing. That's amazing that's showing them so much respect yes, exactly, and honoring them for the hard work that they do, their culture oh, that's amazing. And they travel a long distance, right, they do. So let's talk about this story, because yesterday, when we were having coffee, literally the first time I met Carla, she said oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I land in Mexico City and then I have to kind of plan my time, and this was kind of an initial, from what I understood, an initial meeting to try and get some artisans to try to introduce yourself and your mission and what you want to do. And she got in a taxi and then you wanted to go to a specific area and the driver said oh, I don't know, carla, I don't know. So take me to that moment, because I think this will be amazing for the listeners.

Speaker 2:

So as soon as I say I need to move to Mexico to start like building this relationship with them, because obviously you cannot find anything on social media right, or on internet. So I go to Chiapas San Cristobal de las Casas is the main city, if you want to call it, in Chiapas and then I did a road just to say, okay, what is the textiles communities there? So Chiapas has a very. Everything is between the mountains. There is no reception, there is nothing between any little town Like you can drive for like two or three hours and don't see anything besides mountains and trees and everything. So I took this taxi. I didn't know anybody.

Speaker 1:

Alone, alone.

Speaker 2:

Fearless. I went, literally just went, to these private taxis and they say can you please take me? How much it will be for the entire day? And I want to go to these communities. So it was one of these communities that is called Caracoles they call it like that and it's from this movement that they had in Mexico in the 90s called Zapatistas. So it's a specific type of little towns that they are protected still from these people that they have in. They're stealing this movement, protecting their, their own people, because that's what they do. So I literally, without knowing anybody, I literally told the taxi can you please drive me there? And he was scared to even get close. So he left me like 50 meters before, a hundred meters before.

Speaker 2:

he said you go, you go, you go, lady you go, yes, wow, and I literally stepped in front of them and they were just like. You couldn't see anything, only their eyes. And you know, like you said they were armed. Yeah, they were armed and they were kind of respectful because you know like, even though I was just like everything inside of me was shaking, everything was just like I hope everything is fine and I go back to San Cristobal de las Casas. But I just told them, you know what, and that's what I did.

Speaker 2:

I just say I have this project because it was a project, I didn't have anything. And I say I would like to just meet some weavers and I would like to just meet these women because I know that there is a specific type of weave that they create here. And of course, they rejected. They say no, but you know what? Like, I remember that week that I was traveling from place to place to place, there were so many times that I got in inside of the taxi and I was crying, and the taxi driver, after a week that we became friends, he said why are you crying? And I say I feel like I shouldn't be doing this. I feel like I shouldn't be doing this, I feel like I should just go back to where I am working and like in this case, it was New York, in New York, yeah, and continue. You know what I was doing? Like I just felt that it was not something that was actually going to happen. Wow, yeah.

Speaker 1:

That is powerful. Yeah, I'm sure he looked at you and thought, wow, she's a badass. Yeah, and he probably moved a little closer then and didn't drop you off quite as far away, because he's like, if she can do this, I can do this. That's so cool. So you found these weavers and I had the ability to see some photos, and I'm hoping when I put up the show, I'll be able to incorporate some of those in. I'd also like to go with you and see your collective and bring people along so they can see it too.

Speaker 1:

So maybe we'll have a film crew do that because, I think it would be fabulous, but these weavers are women. They're all women, correct? Yeah, and they do a certain type. I'm always thinking of a loom Like that's what I picture weaving, and this is very different.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so it's called backstrap loom. They start weaving All these women. They start learning this technique since they are like six or seven years old, because they create their own clothes. When you go to these communities, they all wear exactly the same clothes that they make. They don't wear t-shirts and jeans or anything, even though it is cult. They're always wearing this type of, but it's in every town. They wear completely different clothing Because for them, it's the meaning behind their specific dress, or weepil that's how it's called Wow, and it has like some symbols or something that when you see them, you know okay, she's from San Juan, cancun, she's from Carranza.

Speaker 2:

You start noticing right away and you know from where they belong and because they are so proud of where they're coming from, their heritage yeah, they are Exactly. And so they start weaving when they're very little and it doesn't have to do anything with, like a child labor or anything. Is there's something that they learn because in then they know when they they become, you know, like women. They're going to continue doing that and hopefully they continue with these traditions for their own families, wow so it's a, as you said, it's a backstrap loom.

Speaker 2:

So they they, they attach this kind of like a strap around their waist and they have this, they attach the loom into a pole or a tree. So they actually where they weave. They like to weave outdoors, unless that is raining and they have to weave inside of the kitchen, which is not a kitchen, right, and that's where they weave. They weave there and for them. One day, I remember I asked them like how do you feel? What do you feel? Because, even though, even if it's exactly the same artisan weaving two different to exactly the same design, they're always gonna see something different yeah for them.

Speaker 2:

They told me it's a therapy for them because that's the one they, yeah, yeah, it's their creative outlet as well, yeah they say that for me, weaving, because they wait between six to eight hours every day, um, they say for me it's the way that I disconnect from everything that is happening outside. And then I connect with myself with it with the way that I, they, they call also that with the, the way that they're okay, they can hear their, because every time when they're doing the movement, the heart is going, so they know there is something alive.

Speaker 1:

Wow yeah, just the story behind the brand is so amazing, so amazing, and we talked at the beginning about you know circles to horseshoes. You know opening up your circle and allowing others in and not knowing where that might go, and that is that's your story. I mean, you now have relationships with these artisans. You know their families. You sent gifts for the holidays. I mean that is just that in and of itself is such a as an entrepreneur, you should be very proud of that, because that is your story behind this brand. Now that is exploding and you have your collective.

Speaker 2:

You're going to be leaving in the next few weeks to go back to Mexico and be there for a few months yes, I mean it's just important for me to have this personal connection with them because for me, as I told them this since the day one is like I'm not looking for someone who is my employee, this is something that we both are gonna create. Because in then, yes, I do the designs, but they are a mastermind, like it's just sometimes I just say, well, we're gonna do these colors and they really are. You really want to do those colors because they, I don't think they look great but and so I give them the opportunity for them also to create something, I mean with that design and the things that come, so beautiful. So it's for me it's important for to know, to get to know each other, their families, that for them to know that I care about them. Besides, just, can we please do this design Right and and, and you know, just mass produce so many.

Speaker 1:

You're actually looking at the value and you're respecting them and their opinions and their talent, which is so lost in so many cases.

Speaker 2:

So tell us where people can find you and where they can find your beautiful pieces, so they can find me on Instagram, monsera.

Speaker 1:

Collective and you're doing stories now. We talked about this yesterday because I the whole social media thing is so crazy and I've been doing this a while. At days I'm just like, oh my gosh, do I have to do it? I want to, I'm going to be me.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I don't want to do that, but I love talking about my brand. I mean, we yesterday we spent like an hour, we did I think I even didn't stop talking. I love talking with people and just to share that. So people can find me on social media, monsera Collective, and also on my website, monsera Collective. I am in some boutiques in New York. I am in two boutiques that actually carry emerging designers from Latin America Wow. And I am in some hotels as well yeah, high-end hotels. So everything. I'm not looking for anything that is going to be a retailer, right. I'm looking for something that has a boutique that is you know, well, everything's created with a retailer, right. I'm looking for something that it has a boutique that is.

Speaker 1:

You know, Well, everything's created with a story. Yeah, and that's what makes it so special, exactly, I love that. So, before we close today, and I'll have everything linked to the episode notes so people can find you and reach out to you and get introduced to you, and I know we're going to do more. But you know, one question I have for you is I heard a little bit of your story and you know you said I was kind of the black sheep. I always kind of did stuff a little differently. I got on a plane, I went to New York. I I'm doing this Like I'm bold and brave. Take me to a moment, two questions. One the first question is I want you to take me to a moment when you were scared. You, you really were like I don't know if I can do this and for the people listening and watching, what did you do to overcome that?

Speaker 2:

I always feel you always, and I always feel and I always think that you always wanna have the fear with you. But what is important is for you to overcome that, for you to say okay, why am I scared about this? For me, this moment was living my 10 years career in the fashion industry in New York, when I was reaching that point that I say you know what, this is what I dream for, yeah, and starting something from scratch that, who knows, is going to work. So for me, it's always putting that there is no plan B, because sometimes your head it just brings you that what if it doesn't work? Well, I can go back to New York. I know I can go back to New York.

Speaker 2:

I always knew that I could go back to Mexico, but I never did, like, I never went back to Mexico. And I remember one time my dad, when I was 18 and I left Guadalajara to Mexico City, he say burn your boats. He say that make sure when you leave, don't come back. And he didn't say it in the, in the bad way. Yeah, he say, when you make a decision, go for it, be committed to it, be committed.

Speaker 2:

Believe in it, believe it, it, and there are going to be so many things that are going to happen, but if you always keep thinking about, well, I can go back, then you will never going to test yourself and what you can actually do you're never going to go forward.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, smart dad, wonderful dad, yeah. Last question for you is if you were sitting on the couch and you look over and there's a younger version, 10 years ago, of Carla, what advice would you give her?

Speaker 2:

dream big because for me I always since I was, as I say, many, many, many people I cannot tell you how many people they told me when I said I'm gonna move to New York, they were just laughing at me. They were like how you gonna do it, how you gonna find a job, how you gonna even get a visa, like, and I did it. And then when I said I want to do this with the artisans, they were just like, oh, you don't even have idea how hard it is just to do something with artisans and start from this, and you have already your career. What are you doing? And I just feel like, if you just don't believe in yourself, believe in the power that is inside of you and on those days I think specifically you believe in yourself in those days that you feel like I just want to throw the towel and I want to go back, is that inside of you that says no?

Speaker 1:

That fire, that fire.

Speaker 2:

Exactly and trust the process, because everything takes time. Nothing will come.

Speaker 1:

It's a marathon, not a sprint. Let's be honest Anything in life it's a marathon, not a sprint, and there will be hiccups. Life it's a marathon, not a sprint, and there will be hiccups and there will be times when there's rest stops along the way and people ask me what defines success for you, amy? And there is no perfect path to success. There are rest stops along the way and you learn from those. But you are so incredibly wise and I'm just proud of you. I love meeting you. I love for myself to open my circle to a horseshoe and have this relationship, because I know we're going to do some things together. But I applaud you and I look forward to watching you soar, thank you. Thank you, amy, you're welcome Thanks for coming on.

Speaker 1:

Thanks so much for listening today. We know how valuable your time is and that's why we keep it short and sweet. No-transcript.