"I look for equality, empowering woman and giving them new opportunities."

small-shops: Hi Yeimy, we got to know each other at the biggest central American convention for handmade crafts (New World Crafts) in Antigua, Guatemala. How where you able to get such a prime location for your stand, in the centre of the convention, considering that your brand is only two years old?

Yeimy Muñoz: Hi Valeria & Alberto, I´m so happy for this opportunity and to talk to you again. For me it was a dream since I started, to be part of the Convention for Handmade Crafts (New World Crafts) in Antigua Guatemala. We were able to get a stand because of the hard work, effort, and motivation that we have put in this amazing project. Something that helps us to get were we are now, is our open mind and always look for continuous improvement, also with help of the amazing people & organizations that believed in us. One of the organizations help us to get the capital for the stand was the program “Ella Emprende” where we won the 1st place between more entrepreneurs; it was sponsored by Vital Voices, Visa & Universidad Francisco Marroquin. In fact, one of my goals since I started with TULY was to be able to participate in the Convention, because it offers lots of opportunities and networking.

small-shops: Before we start getting more into your business, let’s start at the beginning. You have lived for some time in Germany and worked for a pharmaceutical company in the region. What motivated you to create a fashion brand?

Yeimy Muñoz: This is a very interesting question, since I was little, I have always loved fashion in all senses, I used to invent clothes for my dolls, then for my children, so I have always felt attracted to fashion. After I graduated, I started work for a worldwide pharmaceutical company which allow me to explore new cultures, especially German culture, I was so captivated by it that I went to live in Germany for a few months. I learned german & also learned to appreciate the natural resources and care about the earth. I realized that in Guatemala we have lots of natural fibres that weren´t appreciated. Nevertheless, I saw an opportunity of a new lifestyle within those fibres. However, I didn´t follow my dream, until a new chapter of my life on December 2020.

small-shops: 95% of your value chain is composed of women, generating income and visibility for several rural Guatemalan families. How do you choose your artisan partners and how do you manage communication with them, having different Mayan languages?

Yeimy Muñoz: Yes, it´s very important for me that my value chain is mostly composed by indigenous women, because I look for equality, empowering woman and giving them new opportunities. I look for communities conform by woman, that live in vulnerable regions in Guatemala. Because one thing that is very important for TULYs principles and values is to create new opportunities for those who need it the most. We look for a partner that is talented, loyal and that dare to experienced new things. Despite the differences in languages, we manage to communicate with our partners in Spanish and sometime through a mediator that can speak Spanish and other Mayan languages.

small-shops: Tuly items are 96% biodegradable. All your unique pieces are made using natural fibres (Tule, Banana, Bamboo, Cibaque, Palm, Maguey, Carrizo and others), zero waste and only solar energy. Can you please tell us how the natural materials are treated, from the sourcing up to the final production of the bags?

Yeimy Muñoz: Sure, taking in consideration the whole process, is quite long. The pieces are special for me because it is creating new opportunities from *leftovers of the plant, which are the fibres. In fact, in Guatemala the fibres aren´t appreciated nor used. The process is the following: the fibre grows during 9 to 12 months, then the fibre is selected for its quality, then prepared and dried with solar energy, after that the fibres are weaved with ancestral techniques. We use the leftover fibres in the ecological packaging of the Tuly pieces, with those actions we try to work the whole chain with zero waste. Finally, the product will be touched up and organically treated ready for sale.

small-shops: Tuly was created only a few years ago, in the midst of the pandemic, and already has an excellent reputation with good customer feedback. Besides the good growth, what has been your greatest achievement so far?

Yeimy Muñoz: Besides participating in conventions that I use to dream about and selling in great firms, my biggest achievement, is the social part we have created a new conscious lifestyle that is committed and responsible to the environment and its people.

small-shops: Your brand focuses on bags and home decoration. Do you plan to expand your product range and if so, can you share some of the ideas you have?

Yeimy Muñoz: I always dream big and seeing TULY as a great international store, I would love to have visibility and market or collabs (international brands) in Europe where people are already concerned about sustainable brands. Some say that dreaming is limitless, so one of my dreams is to become a fashion brand with unique pieces of clothing, bags, interior design, etc, and live a conscious live. That guarantees ethical & slow fashion in the whole process to continue benefiting and giving visibility to communities of vulnerable women.

small-shops: If you could change one little thing in the world, what would it be?

Yeimy Muñoz: Pollution is affecting the whole world. It is one of the reasons that I started with this entrepreneurship because I want to leave a green footprint for my next generations. A big Thanks guys, for this lovely interview and asking such great questions, that also make me think about the future of TULY. Hope to see you soon in Guatemala or Germany!