It’s that time of year!

2023: The year of inspiration, moving to 2024: The year of action.

I felt it was especially important for me to do this, considering that last year I have been in a quiet side. But I've decided that it needs to stop. 🤓 So, here I am, doing this more for myself and to confront my imposter syndrome.

Are you ready? Let's begin.

A quick recap of my actions in 2023!

Let’s dive into my French journey! 🇫🇷 If you know me, you'll recall that I spoke very little at first. I could understand conversations, but forming sentences was a challenge. Now, I CAN! Sure, my Mexican/American accent is still present, and that's okay. Yet, now I can run errands, chat on the phone in French—no need for English or Spanish to get my point across or get things done.  💪

I'm AWARE that my French is far from fluent, but I'm making progress! The more I study French, the more I appreciate its fascinating, diverse, yet complex nature. There's this American comedian, Sebastian MARX, who perfectly describes the French language in one of his jokes. He suggests it was crafted by abstract expressionist artists—where combining E, A, and U results in a <Ô> pronunciation, and you skip the X. The more I learn, the more fascinated I become. I can't wait to see my improvement by the end of 2024.

After 20 years of experience working in Digital Marketing for various companies—small, medium, big corporations, and startups—in three different countries, Mexico, the United States, and France, I decided it was time to tap into creating my own company and explore my entrepreneurial skills. In the past year, I've been organising my ideas, giving them form, and figuring out how to bring them to life. 2023 is the year where I fully started working and figuring out how to finance, creating a 3-year sales projection.

I have to confess, after going through this process, I can now appreciate every entrepreneur who has created a company, made it work, created jobs, and committed to paying monthly salaries, income taxes, administration costs, insurance, and still make a profit! To all my ex-employers, thank you 🙏 for making it work and paying my salaries plus bonuses on time.  

2024 the year of launching my own biz!

Yes, that it’s happening. I’m so excited to share with you all that I have been working on. Let’s begin with: What’s Unni Atelier?  

Unni Atelier is a company dedicated to importing traditional Huaraches—Mexican sandals along with, belts, and bags. We prioritise sustainable and fair practices, ensuring that our products are not only stylish but also contribute to the empowerment and development of skilled artisans. The uniqueness of our products lies in their timeless design, exceptional comfort, and adaptability to various clothing styles.

Unni Atelier Values: Slow Fashion, Fair Trade, & Transparency

El huarache, an extraordinary shoe that transcends trends and borders. Labeled as bohemian, ethnic, and even rebellious.

The huarache is a flat leather sandal characterised primarily by a uniquely woven design—the only one of its kind in the world. Crafted from a single, extremely long strip of leather, it secures the foot with intricate and beautiful weavings on a sole, sometimes made of leather, sometimes from a car tire.

Huaraches (Mexican sandals) have transcended the ages – their practicality is next level. You can rock them with any outfit: pants, skirts, shorts, dresses, you name it. And the best part? You can walk for miles! The more you wear 'em, the comfier and more unique they get.

Our sandals would be handmade; each pair is a one-of-a-kind, molding to your feet as you wear them. We're talking slow fashion standards here – timeless design, fair-trade, and sustainability. But, above all, our brand is all about craftsmanship. We're on a mission to uplift and celebrate artisans, paying them fair wages so they can focus on perfecting their craft. It's not just shoes; it's a commitment to quality and supporting the artistry behind it.

In a nutshell this is what I have been working for 2023! I can’t wait to see what will bring 2024.

Later, Amigos! 😘

Noelia SANTA ANA

Feeling like supporting my small biz? Please subscribe below, so you can keep up with in my new role as entrepreneur, get facts, slow fashion tips,  storytelling news… like how El Huarache has transcended social and economic boundaries, from farmers in fields to urban dwellers on city streets.  👇