Meet Cristina: 18 Years of Growth, Creativity, and Opportunity
When Cristina joined UPAVIM 18 years ago, she wasn't thinking about product development, prototypes, or new collections.
She simply wanted an opportunity to provide for her family.
Today, Cristina plays an important role in developing many of UPAVIM's newest products. From creating samples and testing ideas to calculating production costs, she helps transform concepts into the handmade products that eventually find their way into stores across the United States.
As we prepare to launch new products later this year, we wanted to introduce one of the talented women behind them.
From Hardship to Opportunity
Cristina was born in Patzún, Chimaltenango, in Guatemala's highlands. As a young child, she lost both of her parents during Guatemala's armed conflict, a civil war that disproportionately affected Indigenous communities in the country's highlands. She and her siblings were subsequently raised by their grandparents before eventually moving to Guatemala City.
As a young teenager, Cristina became a mother. She recalls that conversations about relationships, reproductive health, and pregnancy were rarely discussed in her community, leaving many young women with little information or support. The responsibilities of motherhood came early, but they also strengthened her determination to create a different future for her children.
Years later, while raising her family, Cristina found an opportunity at UPAVIM.
Her first job was helping with cleaning duties in the bakery. She still remembers receiving her first paycheck and the excitement and hope it brought her.
"I was so happy," Cristina recalls. "I worked one hour and earned five quetzales. When I received my first paycheck, I felt excited and hopeful."
Learning, Growing, and Leading
Over the years, Cristina embraced every opportunity to learn.
She participated in UPAVIM's self-esteem workshops, learned artisan skills, expanded her responsibilities, and during the pandemic learned to sew from home after UPAVIM provided her with a sewing machine and training.
Those opportunities helped transform her confidence and her future.
"The woman I was before no longer exists," Cristina says. "I have learned so much here."
As her skills grew, so did her opportunities. What began as a small role eventually led to a position creating product samples and prototypes.
At first, Cristina was nervous about accepting the role.
Today, she is one of the key people involved in developing new products at UPAVIM.
From creating samples and testing new ideas to calculating material usage and production costs, Cristina helps transform concepts into finished products. Many of the upcoming designs you'll see from UPAVIM have passed through her hands long before they reach store shelves.
She now helps determine everything from the amount of thread used in a product to the final production cost.
"Sometimes I tell myself that women can achieve what they want in life if they are given the opportunity," she says.
Designing What's Next
Every new UPAVIM product begins with an idea.
That idea must be tested, refined, sampled, and evaluated before it becomes a finished product.
Cristina now plays a critical role in that process.
Whether she is refining a prototype, creating a sample, or helping prepare a new design for production, her creativity and experience help bring new collections to life.
In the coming months, we'll be introducing several new products that Cristina helped develop, and we're excited to share sneak peeks of those designs with our wholesale partners.
A Family Story
When Cristina first joined UPAVIM, she was focused on providing for her children and creating a better future for her family.
Today, she is the proud mother of seven children and grandmother to a growing family.
One of her oldest daughters is currently studying law at university with the support of a UPAVIM scholarship. For Cristina, seeing her daughter pursue higher education is one of her proudest accomplishments and a powerful reminder of how opportunity can create lasting change across generations.
Her younger daughter participates in UPAVIM's educational support programs and continues her studies with access to technology and resources that help her succeed.
Her older children are raising families of their own, and Cristina now enjoys watching her grandchildren reach important educational milestones.
Looking at her family today, Cristina sees the results of years of hard work, perseverance, and opportunity. What began as a job nearly two decades ago has helped create opportunities that now extend across multiple generations.
Why This Matters
When retailers choose UPAVIM products, they aren't simply purchasing inventory.
They are supporting women who are building skills, confidence, and brighter futures for themselves and their families.
Cristina's story is one example of what long-term opportunity can make possible.
Over the course of 18 years, she has grown from a bakery helper into a product developer. She has raised seven children, helped support educational opportunities for the next generation, and now contributes to the creation of products sold around the world.
Looking Toward the Future
Cristina often speaks about the opportunities UPAVIM has provided—not only for herself, but for her children.
"UPAVIM gave me opportunities to grow," she says. "Now I know that women can achieve what they want in life when they are given the opportunity."
As we prepare to introduce Cristina's newest product designs, we're reminded that every product carries a story.
Behind each sample, prototype, and finished piece is a woman who has spent nearly two decades learning, growing, and creating opportunities for her family.
We invite you to stay tuned for upcoming product launches and celebrate the creativity, craftsmanship, and determination of artisans like Cristina who make them possible.
Explore our collection and discover products handcrafted by artisans like Cristina.