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
----------------------------------------
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?
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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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today with an amazing episode.
I didn't say exciting, I saidamazing because this was going
to be amazing.
And you know, what we talkabout so often in life is,
especially as women, we gothrough life in circles.
We truly do.
We choose comfort over courageand a lot of times, if we would
(00:28):
just open our circles to ahorseshoe, that's what it's all
about.
And today we're going to betalking about one of those
F-words fearlessly facing.
We're facing fashion today.
But even more importantly, Ithink you will see through this
conversation that everybody hassuch an interesting story and
when you open your circle to ahorseshoe and you allow those
(00:50):
conversations to flow and youlisten to the story that that
person is telling you, magichappens.
So I'm super excited today tohave with me someone I just met.
How crazy is that to all thelisteners and viewers?
I literally just met throughone of my best friends.
I'd like you to meet CarlaMarguella.
I got it right.
(01:11):
Yes, I even said Marguella.
I'm so thrilled to welcome youhere, thank you.
Thank you for having me, amy,you're so welcome.
And it's funny because we hadcoffee yesterday and I said
choosing comfort over courage.
Choosing courage over comfortis really what it's about.
Right, we need to be morecourageous.
We need to open the dialoguewith people that you just never
(01:33):
know where it's going to go.
Yeah, so Carla has an amazingstory, so we're going to talk
about that, and Carla is afashion designer that has just
an incredible passion thataligned with her purpose, so
let's dig into it.
So first of all, just do alittle brief intro.
Maybe you know 30, 45 secondsof who you are for everybody out
(01:55):
there watching.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
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 inMexico City.
I did my my career there untilI decided to.
You know what?
I was working for Elle magazine.
I was a digital editor thereand then one day I said, you
(02:18):
know what, this is not what Iwant to stay, I want to just do
something bigger.
I want, like, a fashion was mypassion.
Also.
It was New York.
So I said you know what, likeone day I want to, I want to
live there.
I want to live there.
So I apply for Parsons to mymaster's and I decided to
literally pack my bags when Igot accepted, go to New York
(02:39):
when I didn't know anybody andthen just start my fashion
career there.
I went to start from scratcheverything, doing internships,
when I already have like five tosix years of experience in
Mexico.
Start from scratch withinternships and from literally
the bottom of wow, sales andeverything.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
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 (03:10):
I don't think so, but
she would say that I was always
the one who was willing to dosomething, like every time when
I was just like you know what, Iwant to do this, I was doing it
.
Yeah, I want to do this, I wasdoing it.
So I was always kind of like Icould say, the black sheep of my
family in terms of always doingsomething different than
(03:31):
everyone else in my family did,which is leaving my hometown
when I was 18, then moving to adifferent country when I didn't
know anybody.
I always loved fashion, yes, butI never thought I was going to
really work in the fashionindustry.
Yeah, a risk taker yes.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah, I think that's
funny because I think so often
women will say, oh, I don't liketo take risks, I don't want to
step out of my comfort zone, andyou did that by leaving your
country, by getting to New York.
So take me to that moment inNew York.
You get there and you're likeokay, now I'm here, like now
what?
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Well, I started, I
knew that I wanted to.
If I wanted to find a job, Ihad to start doing internships.
I've always been the personthat I always try to say what is
my goal, so what I have to doto get into that goal.
So I knew, okay, if I want tofind a job here, what is going
to be the first steps.
So I knew that I have to haveinternships.
(04:26):
So I literally, with noconnections, not networking, not
nothing start having sendinghundreds 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 havingmy step into the fashion
(04:47):
industry Right While I was alsostudying full-time.
Isn't that amazing?
Speaker 1 (04:52):
You know, not in the
fashion industry, but when I
published my book, when I sentoff 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 (05:13):
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 Iused to just get all these
interviews and then say you havea great experience that we
don't know.
So you know, like it was alwayssomething that probably gave me
and kind of gave me that shake,thinking about should I just go
(05:33):
back to my country?
Should I just continue goingwhat I was doing there.
Go back.
Because in then in Ellemagazine they told me you know
that you are always welcome here, so you can come back.
But I was that's prettyfabulous it is.
It is, yeah, that shows yourreputation, your hard work, yeah
, your commitment, yes, um, butI was also like saying, like, if
I go back like that's it right,it's not like, uh, I always
(05:57):
been trying to push and I I didit like I got my very first job
after many internships that, asyou know, in the fashion
industry they are not paid Right, so it's like start from
scratch as an assistant inwholesale, which, as I say, like
I already have experience andmany years that I really
(06:18):
dedicated to build my resume inMexico, but I didn't care.
I didn't care to start fromscratch.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah, I think that's
so fabulous Tenacity, resilience
, fearlessness and risk-takingand that can come with time.
So, for people that arelistening or watching and saying
, oh yeah, I have this dream, Iwant to do this, but I just
don't think I can, that stops somany people from pursuing their
(06:47):
passion.
So I applaud you for pushingthrough that because it comes
with challenge.
So let's talk aboutfearlessness.
Let's talk about what yourcollection, monsera right, is it
like Monsera?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Is that how you say
it, monsera?
Speaker 1 (07:02):
It's beautiful and I
first got a glimpse into it with
one of my dear friends here andshe immediately texted me after
she met you and this is one ofmy dearest, oldest friends.
She said, Amy, I just boughtthis incredible piece of
clothing that I want you to see,but I want you to meet Carla
because there's a story thereyou've got to just uncover.
(07:23):
So let's talk about this.
You've launched this collectiveyes.
And it is all really supportingartisans in Mexico.
So let's walk through that.
First of all, let's walkthrough exactly what this
collective is and how yousupport those artisans, and then
I want to talk about your tripthere.
I want to talk about thatbecause that's a whole story
(07:44):
trip there.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
I want to talk about
that because that's a whole
story.
So, working in the fashionindustry, I just for many years,
I just saw like I was doingsomething that I like and
something that I always try topursue.
But then I was feeling kind ofempty, like knowing that I was
doing something, but it wasn'tgiving me that happiness, right.
So I say I want to do somethingthat is meaningful for me and
meaningful for the people that I, that they are from my country,
(08:07):
right, like I.
Just you see all thesebeautiful fabrics and everything
from other countries andthey're so proud to say made in
Italy, made in France, andeverything.
And then I would say why Icannot have something that it
says made in Mexico, that itsays made in Mexico?
So I wanted to just go back andjust with all the experience
(08:28):
that I have which it wasn't inthe fashion, as a fashion
designer, it was more in thesales, because I was always more
focused in business.
But what I told you like is forme was what I have to do in
order to be a designer.
So I started, went to studyLondon, I did fashion design
because my very first sketcheswhich are terrible.
I was just like no one is goingto understand.
(08:49):
I want to see those sketches.
You will see it like I,literally you have to start
somewhere.
It was exactly, and I I startedlike literally just doing
things and no one I, I, I usedto send them to artisans and
they're like I don't understand.
So I have to send sometimespictures, but then I have to say
something.
The artisans and they're like Idon't understand.
So I have to send sometimespictures, but then I have to say
something.
The artisans, they don't likecopying.
(09:09):
So they, as soon as they knewokay, I was sending a picture, I
was like, okay, something likethis, but it's not like that.
They were like I'm sorry, likewe don't do that because it's
not something that we like to do.
We like to create somethingthat is unique and something
that comes from you, comes fromus.
So then I say I have to stopbefore I start everything and do
(09:33):
fashion design.
So I did like these, like sixmonths of fashion design.
Then I went back to Mexico andthen I started working with them
.
It took me almost a year forthem to just start trusting me,
especially because there havebeen so many people that they go
take advantage of them.
They go and they say we'regoing to give you a job, you're
(09:56):
going to be working, you'regoing to be doing this and we
will pay you your fair amount.
And then after a few monthsthey say well, you know what?
What if you just start loweringyour rates or do this or do
that and they just don't givethem that credit, that they do
Right, right, and they speak adifferent language and they
speak a different language.
I learned that yesterday.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
I thought that was
really.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
It's a different
dialect, it's a dialect from the
Mayan, so it's Sotzil andSeltal.
So I only talk to one of thekind of like it's not
represented but it's like whocan actually translate between
them and myself, which now I tryto get some ideas and get some
(10:38):
words that they say, because Iwant them to feel that I'm also
involved with their culture,like I don't want them just to
feel.
So sometimes I say can youplease tell me how do you say
this star or how do you say this?
Because every single symbolthat they create, they create it
for something.
It comes from an inspiration,from something that they got,
(10:59):
inspired by nature, or somethingthat they hear when they're
like I don't know, like washingtheir clothes, something like
that.
So I always ask them how do yousay this?
Can you please spell it for me?
And then the next time when Idesign something and I
incorporate that design or thatsymbol, I say can you please put
?
Speaker 1 (11:18):
and then I say it for
them and they just get so happy
.
That's amazing.
That's amazing that's showingthem so much respect yes,
exactly, and honoring them forthe 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 thefirst time I met Carla, she said
(11:40):
oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So I land in Mexico City andthen I have to kind of plan my
time, and this was kind of aninitial, from what I understood,
an initial meeting to try andget some artisans to try to
introduce yourself and yourmission and what you want to do.
And she got in a taxi and thenyou wanted to go to a specific
(12:01):
area and the driver said oh, Idon'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 (12:08):
So as soon as I say I
need to move to Mexico to start
like building this relationshipwith them, because obviously
you cannot find anything onsocial media right, or on
internet.
So I go to Chiapas SanCristobal de las Casas is the
main city, if you want to callit, in Chiapas and then I did a
road just to say, okay, what isthe textiles communities there?
(12:31):
So Chiapas has a very.
Everything is between themountains.
There is no reception, there isnothing between any little town
Like you can drive for like twoor three hours and don't see
anything besides mountains andtrees and everything.
So I took this taxi.
I didn't know anybody.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Alone, alone.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Fearless.
I went, literally just went, tothese private taxis and they
say can you please take me?
How much it will be for theentire day?
And I want to go to thesecommunities.
So it was one of thesecommunities that is called
Caracoles they call it like thatand it's from this movement
that they had in Mexico in the90s called Zapatistas.
(13:14):
So it's a specific type oflittle towns that they are
protected still from thesepeople that they have in.
They're stealing this movement,protecting their, their own
people, because that's what theydo.
So I literally, without knowinganybody, I literally told the
taxi can you please drive methere?
(13:34):
And he was scared to even getclose.
So he left me like 50 metersbefore, a hundred meters before.
he said you go, you go, you go,lady you go, yes, wow, and I
literally stepped in front ofthem and they were just like.
You couldn't see anything, onlytheir eyes.
And you know, like you saidthey were armed.
Yeah, they were armed and theywere kind of respectful because
(13:56):
you know like, even though I wasjust like everything inside of
me was shaking, everything wasjust like I hope everything is
fine and I go back to SanCristobal de las Casas.
But I just told them, you knowwhat, and that's what I did.
I just say I have this projectbecause it was a project, I
didn't have anything.
And I say I would like to justmeet some weavers and I would
(14:18):
like to just meet these womenbecause I know that there is a
specific type of weave that theycreate here.
And of course, they rejected.
They say no, but you know what?
Like, I remember that week thatI was traveling from place to
place to place, there were somany times that I got in inside
of the taxi and I was crying,and the taxi driver, after a
(14:39):
week that we became friends, hesaid why are you crying?
And I say I feel like Ishouldn't be doing this.
I feel like I shouldn't bedoing this, I feel like I should
just go back to where I amworking 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 wasnot something that was actually
going to happen.
(15:00):
Wow, yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
That is powerful.
Yeah, I'm sure he looked at youand thought, wow, she's a
badass.
Yeah, and he probably moved alittle 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 andI had the ability to see some
photos, and I'm hoping when Iput up the show, I'll be able to
(15:23):
incorporate some of those in.
I'd also like to go with youand see your collective and
bring people along so they cansee it too.
So maybe we'll have a film crewdo that because, I think it
would be fabulous, but theseweavers are women.
They're all women, correct?
Yeah, and they do a certaintype.
I'm always thinking of a loomLike that's what I picture
weaving, and this is verydifferent.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Yeah, so it's called
backstrap loom.
They start weaving All thesewomen.
They start learning thistechnique since they are like
six or seven years old, becausethey create their own clothes.
When you go to thesecommunities, they all wear
exactly the same clothes thatthey make.
They don't wear t-shirts andjeans or anything, even though
(16:08):
it is cult.
They're always wearing thistype of, but it's in every town.
They wear completely differentclothing Because for them, it's
the meaning behind theirspecific dress, or weepil that's
how it's called Wow, and it haslike some symbols or something
that when you see them, you knowokay, she's from San Juan,
(16:31):
cancun, she's from Carranza.
You start noticing right awayand you know from where they
belong and because they are soproud of where they're coming
from, their heritage yeah, theyare Exactly.
And so they start weaving whenthey're very little and it
doesn't have to do anything with, like a child labor or anything
.
Is there's something that theylearn because in then they know
(16:52):
when they they become, you know,like women.
They're going to continue doingthat and hopefully they
continue with these traditionsfor their own families, wow so
it's a, as you said, it's abackstrap loom.
So they they, they attach thiskind of like a strap around
their waist and they have this,they attach the loom into a pole
(17:13):
or a tree.
So they actually where theyweave.
They like to weave outdoors,unless that is raining and they
have to weave inside of thekitchen, which is not a kitchen,
right, and that's where theyweave.
They weave there and for them.
One day, I remember I askedthem like how do you feel?
What do you feel?
Because, even though, even ifit's exactly the same artisan
(17:36):
weaving two different to exactlythe same design, they're always
gonna see something differentyeah for them.
They told me it's a therapy forthem because that's the one they
, yeah, yeah, it's theircreative outlet as well, yeah
they say that for me, weaving,because they wait between six to
eight hours every day, um, theysay for me it's the way that I
(17:58):
disconnect from everything thatis happening outside.
And then I connect with myselfwith it with the way that I,
they, they call also that withthe, the way that they're okay,
they can hear their, becauseevery time when they're doing
the movement, the heart is going, so they know there is
something alive.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Wow yeah, just the
story behind the brand is so
amazing, so amazing, and wetalked at the beginning about
you know circles to horseshoes.
You know opening up your circleand allowing others in and not
knowing where that might go, andthat is that's your story.
I mean, you now haverelationships with these
artisans.
You know their families.
(18:36):
You sent gifts for the holidays.
I mean that is just that in andof itself is such a as an
entrepreneur, you should be veryproud of that, because that is
your story behind this brand.
Now that is exploding and youhave your collective.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
You're going to be
leaving in the next few weeks to
go back to Mexico and be therefor a few months yes, I mean
it's just important for me tohave this personal connection
with them because for me, as Itold them this since the day one
is like I'm not looking forsomeone who is my employee, this
is something that we both aregonna create.
Because in then, yes, I do thedesigns, but they are a
(19:13):
mastermind, like it's justsometimes I just say, well,
we're gonna do these colors andthey really are.
You really want to do thosecolors because they, I don't
think they look great but and soI 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 importantfor to know, to get to know each
(19:34):
other, their families, that forthem to know that I care about
them.
Besides, just, can we please dothis design Right and and, and
you know, just mass produce somany.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
You're actually
looking at the value and you're
respecting them and theiropinions and their talent, which
is so lost in so many cases.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
So tell us where
people can find you and where
they can find your beautifulpieces, so they can find me on
Instagram, monsera.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Collective and you're
doing stories now.
We talked about this yesterdaybecause I the whole social media
thing is so crazy and I've beendoing this a while.
At days I'm just like, oh mygosh, do I have to do it?
I want to, I'm going to be me.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Yeah, I don't want to
do that, but I love talking
about my brand.
I mean, we yesterday we spentlike an hour, we did I think I
(20:34):
even didn't stop talking.
I love talking with people andjust to share that.
So people can find me on socialmedia, monsera Collective, and
also on my website, monseraCollective.
I am in some boutiques in NewYork.
I am in two boutiques thatactually carry emerging
(20:55):
designers from Latin America Wow.
And I am in some hotels as wellyeah, high-end hotels.
So everything.
I'm not looking for anythingthat is going to be a retailer,
right.
I'm looking for something thathas a boutique that is you know,
well, everything's created witha retailer, right.
I'm looking for something thatit has a boutique that is.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
You know, Well,
everything's created with a
story.
Yeah, and that's what makes itso special, exactly, I love that
.
So, before we close today, andI'll have everything linked to
the episode notes so people canfind you and reach out to you
and get introduced to you, and Iknow we're going to do more.
But you know, one question Ihave for you is I heard a little
bit of your story and you knowyou said I was kind of the black
(21:31):
sheep.
I always kind of did stuff alittle differently.
I got on a plane, I went to NewYork.
I I'm doing this Like I'm boldand brave.
Take me to a moment, twoquestions.
One the first question is Iwant you to take me to a moment
when you were scared.
You, you really were like Idon't know if I can do this and
(21:51):
for the people listening andwatching, what did you do to
overcome that?
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I always feel you
always, and I always feel and I
always think that you alwayswanna have the fear with you.
But what is important is foryou to overcome that, for you to
say okay, why am I scared aboutthis?
For me, this moment was livingmy 10 years career in the
fashion industry in New York,when I was reaching that point
(22:19):
that I say you know what, thisis what I dream for, yeah, and
starting something from scratchthat, who knows, is going to
work.
So for me, it's always puttingthat there is no plan B, because
sometimes your head it justbrings you that what if it
doesn't work?
Well, I can go back to New York.
I know I can go back to NewYork.
(22:40):
I always knew that I could goback to Mexico, but I never did,
like, I never went back toMexico.
And I remember one time my dad,when I was 18 and I left
Guadalajara to Mexico City, hesay burn your boats.
He say that make sure when youleave, don't come back.
And he didn't say it in the, inthe bad way.
(23:01):
Yeah, he say, when you make adecision, go for it, be
committed to it, be committed.
Believe in it, believe it, it,and there are going to be so
many things that are going tohappen, but if you always keep
thinking about, well, I can goback, then you will never going
to test yourself and what youcan actually do you're never
going to go forward.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Yeah, smart dad,
wonderful dad, yeah.
Last question for you is if youwere sitting on the couch and
you look over and there's ayounger version, 10 years ago,
of Carla, what advice would yougive her?
Speaker 2 (23:54):
dream big because for
me I always since I was, as I
say, many, many, many people Icannot tell you how many people
they told me when I said I'mgonna move to New York, they
were just laughing at me.
They were like how you gonna doit, 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 todo this with the artisans, they
were just like, oh, you don'teven have idea how hard it is
just to do something withartisans and start from this,
(24:15):
and you have already your career.
What are you doing?
And I just feel like, if youjust don't believe in yourself,
believe in the power that isinside of you and on those days
I think specifically you believein yourself in those days that
you feel like I just want tothrow the towel and I want to go
back, is that inside of youthat says no?
Speaker 1 (24:37):
That fire, that fire.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Exactly and trust the
process, because everything
takes time.
Nothing will come.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
It's a marathon, not
a sprint.
Let's be honest Anything inlife it's a marathon, not a
sprint, and there will behiccups.
Life it's a marathon, not asprint, and there will be
hiccups and there will be timeswhen there's rest stops along
the way and people ask me whatdefines success for you, amy?
And there is no perfect path tosuccess.
There are rest stops along theway and you learn from those.
But you are so incredibly wiseand I'm just proud of you.
(25:05):
I love meeting you.
I love for myself to open mycircle to a horseshoe and have
this relationship, because Iknow we're going to do some
things together.
But I applaud you and I lookforward to watching you soar,
thank you.
Thank you, amy, you're welcomeThanks for coming on.
Thanks so much for listeningtoday.
We know how valuable your timeis and that's why we keep it
(25:26):
short and sweet.
No-transcript.