SHOP STORIES: THE MODERNIST

Who is Ana? How would you define yourself?

I'm Ana, I was born and raised in Mexico. From a very young age I was super curious and wanted to live abroad.

The first time I visited Barcelona I was 18, and at that moment I knew I wanted to move there at some point in my life… but first came NY. I moved to NY when I was 23 and loved every minute of it, but my eyes were set on Barcelona so I eventually moved there at age 25 to study a master’s degree in communication and public relations.

Then I started working for a big fashion and fragrance company and stayed there for almost ten years, working in fashion PR, travelling the world, organising events, interviews and much more – I loved it! I was passionate about it, but the heart and time I put into it was sometimes limitless, and in the end it’s not for oneself, so my husband encouraged me and him, of course, to create something of our own, something that would fulfil us and challenge us and make us grow.

Launching our own company has made me realize that I am not only good at PR, but I have also discovered that I have other skills, such as accounting, store design, sales, e-commerce, digital platforms, customs and international trade, logistics and so many other things that I have learned during this time.

WOW! and the learning process is endless, and that's what I like most, learning something new every day.

When did La Modernista open? Could you give us a brief history of your shop? What inspired you to launch your own business?

The project started in early 2018. My husband always said that there was a lot of future in Latin America, specifically in Mexico, it has a very young population and more than 130 million people, so the market has a lot of potential.

When I thought about the project and the type of business we wanted to do, everything I like about Barcelona and its culture came to mind, and why I feel so identified and comfortable there, so I realized that the Mediterranean lifestyle is what I like the most, and we both felt totally aligned.

We love simple, beautiful and functional things. We enjoy eating delicious and unpretentious food, we appreciate design and art that becomes part of your daily life. We love dressing in well-designed clothes, made from natural fabrics and with a style that is not seasonal. We believe that if something is made from great materials and has a great design you should enjoy wearing it and using it for a long, long time.

So, that's how it all started, we launched a business that offers all those products and brands that we love and appreciate for their production processes... It's our lifestyle.

The store has been open since 2019 and we love having this Mediterranean space in the heart of Mexico.

Our hearts continue to skip a beat every time a customer tells us how much they love our products, and of course I do a happy dance every time a customer comes back to buy another pair of Naguisa espadrilles.

Can you share a moment that you will always remember as an entrepreneur?

It's very difficult to narrow it down to a moment, but I will always remember one day when David and I were working in our home in San Miguel de Allende, with tons of paperwork on the table that was in process with different official entities. I was reviewing the import license application, which is another thing. I went on the platform, went to the site and BOOM!!! It was approved! The key to our business... being able to bring in all these products from the Mediterranean! We were officially ready!

Of all our designs to date, which one is your favorite Naguisa?

It's impossible for me to choose a favorite, I love them all and I'm impressed by how you continue to design new styles that remain faithful to the essence of Naguisa.

I love Thalis for summer, wearing them with dresses, from day to night... but if I had to, I guess the SOC is my all-time favorite. I think it's the perfect espadrille for any woman, its classic design with a modern twist, makes it easy to pair with any look, from casual to a more elegant occasion. SOC gives comfort and natural elegance to anyone who wears it, no matter the age, or style, it suits everyone.

Can you recommend your favorite look to pair with Naguisa?

There's nothing quite like a white cotton top, from t-shirts to shirts to tops... I like to keep it simple so you'll often find me wearing a white t-shirt paired with my new obsession, these BOBO CHOSES woman organic cotton pleated striped pants, they're so comfy and out of the ordinary, they're stunning!