Today we’d like to introduce you to Grisel Ortiz.
Hi Grisel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started designing when I was a child, sewing outfits by hand for my dolls. In elementary school I started exploring with larger floral prints to create outfits inspired by the 1960s and 70s. When I became a mom I decided to start a line named FLOR y FAUNA to sell outfits made from deadstock materials on Etsy. It was my way of staying creative as I navigated motherhood. It was also a way to inspire my son to go after his dreams.
In 2020 I decided to shorten the name to FAUNA and bring in other sustainable materials like hemp, organic cotton, and eucalyptus. FAUNA also inspired me to create a line of jewelry made from crystals, feathers, and hardware. At the moment my line has a mix of items for men, women, and children.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the struggles that has come on my journey has been around navigating motherhood and having a business. My first priority is to raise my 2 boys in the best way possible, and that sometimes means putting things in the business on pause.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the designer and owner of FAUNA, a brand created with the priority of putting more sustainable and ethically made products on the market. I am known for creating items made from sustainable materials such as hemp, organic cotton, and eucalyptus, also incorporating deadstock material that would otherwise go to our landfills.
I am most proud of taking the first step in creating FAUNA and having a diverse range of products. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” by Lao Tzu is what inspires me in so many ways.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I design not from sketch to design, but from allowing the fabrics, crystals, feathers, etc. to speak to me and tell me what they want to be. It is a very intuitive and spiritual process for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.faunabrand.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fauna_brand
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopfauna/
Image Credits
Andrés Moncada Frómeta (Instagram @iamandymonk)
