Behind The Brand

TulucraMé

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Tell us a bit about yourself 

My name is Vanessa Orjuela, currently living in New Jersey. I was born and raised in Miami. My background is Colombian, Cuban and Chinese. My main job is modeling but I like to keep busy with my creative side. I love disco balls and macrame so I decided I would combine them to make my pieces more unique and a little more fun. During COVID last year my husband and I decided to escape to Tulum, Mexico for a few weeks. One day we planned to go to a cenote and on the way there we stumbled upon a hidden street market where they had beautiful macrame and crochet home decor like wall hangings, lamps and hammocks. I fell in-love instantly and wanted to take so many pieces home but of course could not. I thought to myself I’m going to learn how to make beautiful pieces like these. I even told the sales lady and she laughed at me lol. We did get two beautiful pieces and took pics of some pieces I wanted to recreate in my own way. When I got back home I went on Pinterest and YouTube to learn the craft of macrame and at first it was a bit difficult but once I learned the main basic knots I was good to go.

What made you start your company?

COVID is what made me start my business, I was not working and I was very bored at home lol even though I’ve been modeling for many years I’ve always liked to do something that kept my creative juices flowing. I used to make feathered headbands, studded phone cases and so many other things to make extra cash and keep that creative side alive. It had been a while since I had tapped into that side of me and it truly makes me happy.

Tell me about your product and brand?

My products consist of dresses that are meant to be worn as cover ups on the beach, and cool pieces to wear to music festivals or wherever and however you please. My brand is meant to make you feel like a goddess! The name came from my awesome husband. Tulum + Macrame = Tulucramé

What struggles have you faced when starting up a business?

Starting any business is hard, especially during COVID. I first started doing wall hangings and noticed they weren’t selling since macrame was gaining so much more popularity it was easy to find cheap pieces at stores like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx and even Amazon. Even though what they sold was not good quality or even beautiful to say the least. These pieces take time and some people don’t get that. So if they see it super cheap somewhere they’re not going to want to spend money on yours.

How did you get over them?

I decided I would start designing dresses and that’s when it took off. I think people love that little bit of glam that the mirror tiles bring to the pieces. It makes you really stand out from the rest.

Any advice for others just getting started?

Find something that you’re passionate about and if a lot of other people are doing it find something to make it different and unique from others.

Do you have a favourite quote?

“Grow through what you go through”

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