Q&A with Elvira Casimiro – Owner of Xodi Jewelry & Gallery;
Mission Local Business Contributor
2250-A Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 697-5413
elvira@xodijewelry.com
Elvira Casimiro talks about her business
We offer original arts and crafts made by Latinoamerican artisans. For example: key chains, backpacks, bags for women, cowboy hats, handcrafted accessories, traditional clothing, coats, ponchos and leather merchandise.
Around 5 years ago, I had the idea of getting involved in my country’s arts and crafts. I started to get to know how they were made, which materials were used in each product. I began researching and getting involved with artisans from Guerrero, Mexico to work together and sell arts and crafts at the Ixtapa port, in Zihuatanejo, where I was living at the time.
That’s how I started to find out more about arts and crafts in other states such as Chiapas, Oaxaca, Michoacán, Yucatán, Nayarit and Jalisco. With time, I met an artisan from the state of Chiapas, who was from Guatemala and so I ventured into finding out more about arts and crafts from a second Latin country. I discovered that the Mexican and Guatemalan crafts were similar in its crafts but each one had its own visible original touch.
Two years after, I had the opportunity to meet the person that would introduce me to crafts from South America, such as in Ecuador and Peru. A year after, I had the opportunity to move to San Francisco, California. When I arrived to the Mission, I decided to give life to Xodi and to make a commitment to bring original products and unique pieces made by artisans in Latinoamerica.
I decided to come to the Mission because it’s a wonderfully versatile place. I am absolutely convinced that the Mission is a place full of opportunities to entrepreneurial people because it opens its doors to small businesses.
What have you learned since you opened up shop in the Mission?
I have learned a lot from the community in the Mission about how to handle and improve my business. The community has provided me with benefits, such as being able to study finances and business administration.
What do you love about the neighborhood?
I love small businesses and cozy little places to go eat. It’s small businesses, restaurants and artists what gives life to the Mission.
What made you decide to support Mission Local?
I decided to support Mission Local because I like to read the news in Spanish. It is important to know what is happening in my community and the truth is that I spend more time in the Mission than in the neighborhood where I live! I am also convinced that Mission Local benefits the community.
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Xodi Jewelry & Gallery on Mission Local