Today we’d like to introduce you to Lexi Lopez.
Hi Lexi Lopez, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started a beading business with my mother Kathy and grandparents Carl and Sherry Lopez in 2015. Lopezbeading was launched when I, now 26, was in boarding school at Sherman Indian High School in Riverside.
I learned how to bead at the age of 15 when I took a beading class as one of my electives. Once I started to bead, I went on to teach the rest of my family. I taught what she learned during the week when I went home on weekends. Initially. I started to sell beadwork because I was always breaking my phone so, my mom told me I needed to make my own money to fix it. Sure I started selling beadwork to fix my phone when I was 15, but it then later grew into something bigger than that. Now I am able to travel with my family, go from powwow to powwow and do something I’m passionate about.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So far it has been smooth. Sure there are bumps in the road. Working with your family isn’t always easy but I wouldn’t have it any other way. There always criticism but with that there’s always room to grow.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We start off doing beadwork and sewing items. Unfortunately my grandmother doesn’t sew anymore but my mother and I still bead. We bead a variety of different things. From powwow earrings to wrapped lanyards. We are known for our beaded lanyards. Besides beadwork, we also sell blankets and other native print items. With selling blankets, we also have the best prices. We are native owned and a lot of people who sell blankets are not native owned and have higher prices than us. We make our prices to be affordable and to not rip off our people!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is to stay true to where you come from. To not rip off your own people. It is a rewarding feeling when you have returning customers who come to use specifically for our prices. Another thing I have learned is yes working with my family is hard but they will always have my back no matter what. I am very grateful for that!
Pricing:
- Kids 1ply blanket $12
- beaded lanyard $80
- King blanket $65
- Beaded wristlet $30
- Small earrings $18
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lopezbeading.com
- Instagram: @lopezbeading
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lopezbeading
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lopezbeading
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lopezbeading?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
First image credit was to the hemet news. the rest of the photos were taken by us lopezbeading.
