Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena and Sarah Gallegos.
Elena and Sarah, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Hello! My name is Elena Gallegos. I am 12 years old and I can’t remember life without food allergies. I was diagnosed with life-threatening food allergies to nuts when I was one year old. It was always a challenge for my parents to keep me safe and for others to fully understand the severity of my food allergies. So as I got a little older and was able to take a more active role in my safety, I began Unicorn Kids Tees. We create shirts for kids and adults who have been diagnosed with food allergies. Our shirts are not only stylish, comfortable and make allergy sufferers feel special, but they serve as an important reminder that the person wearing it has special food needs. It takes a village to keep us safe and we need to educate that village!
Sarah: (mom)
She was one year old when we discovered she had a life-threatening food allergy. She had been exposed to a pistachio and began to break out in a rash that escalated to breathing problems. At the time we had no idea what was happening…but 45 minutes later I was rushing her to the ER listening to her gasping for breath as her condition worsened each second. Since then our lives have changed and our journey into the world of understanding and navigating life with food allergies began. Elena is now old enough to take an active role in her safety and has a desire to help others.
As we began educating her on how to keep herself safe, she started to dream big about ways should use her allergy to make a difference in the world! She had ideas about everything from writing a children’s book on food allergies, creating a recipe book, starting a restaurant, allergy apparel, and building a website for special products and to build awareness. With her imagination running wild we decided on one idea that combined her love for fashion and creativity with a safety element for food allergy kids. Her business, Unicorn Kids Tees, was launched May 2018 during Food Allergy Awareness Week
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Living with a life-threatening food allergies is not easy. There are scary times. I am not able to go to parties, events, trips, vacations, holiday gatherings, playgrounds, the beach, etc. without taking extra precautions and planning for my special food needs. It has been a great challenge getting family and friends to fully understand the level of severity and the extent of the consequences of me being exposed to my allergens.
I was diagnosed at one year old when I was exposed to a pistachio. Within 45 minutes I was struggling to breathe as my parents had rushed me to the ER. Life changed for us all that day. But I can’t remember life any other way. This is all I have ever known. It might be hard sometimes but, it also gives me the opportunity to make an impact on others. I understand others with similar situations and I am now old enough to take an active role in my safety and in helping others!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Unicorn Kids – what should we know?
I design and sell shirts for kids with food allergies. I know what it is like to live with life-threatening food allergies and so I am able to understand these kids and the segregation and fear they experience. I want to help them see how special they are. And I want to give them a little something that can help keep them safe and help parents feel a little more at ease when out in public or away from their kids. Our tees are designed as a cute and stylish but important reminder that we have special food needs. We use the softest fabrics …tri-blend fabrication which makes the material extremely soft and perfect for sensitive skin which often comes with food allergies. We sell from our online shop and at children’s fairs.
The children’s fair in San Diego was so amazing…those are my favorites times…when I get to meet others face to face and hear and share our stories! It was pretty cool too that I walked away with first place! It’s not easy being diagnosed with a life-threatening food allergy, but I love that it gives me an opportunity to serve others. God has allowed me to live with this and it’s ok because I think these are the challenges that build character! And one of the coolest things was winning the Imagine If With With Jif Contest! That opportunity opened up so many more amazing opportunities like being invited on Good Day LA!!!!!! for an interview and other magazine and newspaper interviews!
Sarah: (mom)
A year ago we placed Elena on the waitlist for SoCal Food Allergy … a cutting-edge clinical care and research center that is revolutionizing food allergy treatment with their unique approach…TIP(Tolerance Induction Program). Elena has lived with life-threatening food allergies since she was a baby. Consequently, her life has been a bit different than most kids. After much prayer and research of our options, we realized how unique and promising SoCal Food Allergy Institute’s approach was as the goal of their program is to help children with life-threatening food allergies achieve true food freedom – the ability to eat whatever they want, whenever they want, in unlimited quantities – without fear of reaction.
Although there is a tremendous cost involved, last November, Elena’s business for the food allergy community was chosen as the Jif brand grand prize winner for their Imagine If With Jif Contest. The irony! A kid with peanut allergies winning a nationwide contest hosted by a peanut butter company! We had lots of ideas for growing the business with the grand prize money but when it came down to it, we realized this money was a gift we needed to use to invest in her health. So we began the program this summer and we are looking forward to chronicling it through the next year or two. It takes a village to keep our allergy kids safe and we are blessed to have the opportunity to have SoCal Food Allergy a part of Elenas village! Elena will continue to design and sell her shirts for the allergy community and she’s looking forward to the day she can enjoy her first PB&J!!!!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Knowing that character is more important than success is the most important thing. I think it’s important to be bold and push past any fears. You have to be ambitious but not willing to follow the crowd but to walk in integrity and what you know is right even if it isn’t popular. I guess it comes down to it is more important to be successful in being a person of character who isn’t driven by worldly success than to be successful in only one part of your life.
Pricing:
- Adult Tees – $22
- Kid Tees – $19
Contact Info:
- Website: http://unicornkids.bigcartel.com
- Email: unicornkids.info@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/unicornkidstees
- Facebook: facebook.com/unicornkidstees
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