http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-lisa-kuschka-maripepe-houston/

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Kuschka.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Arriving in the United States and Latin America was a wonderful experience, knowing the different cultures and how they develop their products gave me the idea of creating an accessory that is perfect for modern women and dynamic housewives. We create designs in the Wayuu tribes in La Guajira, Colombia, so you can embellish your design or daily bags giving a cool and artisanal touch to your look. It is definitely the new uniform of modern women and they are not old. My passion for fashion and my interest in people and culture move my world. We also support indigenous communities with different assistance programs.

Has it been a smooth road?
It was difficult because creating products in which three countries intervene for their production generated a lot of work and cost but the satisfaction was huge.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Maripepe story. Tell us more about the business.
Our company is based in Houston but people are involved in Colombia, Mexico, and the United States. We have all over the world that help us promote our product and we promote them to be influential in social networks, the program is called “Maripepe Ambassador”. Our specialty is leather and metal finished bag straps, which improve the look and beautify your regular products, but we also produce bags, belts, straps for guitar, all created by hand by the proud Wayuu people.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Our goal is for now the design, quality and collaboration with our associated people. we want to enter the global market and wholesale starting in Texas.