Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for celebration and reflection. To acknowledge the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
As a part of our DIBE (Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Equity) series “More Than a Month”, Daisy, a Manager here at The Sound, reflects on her Mexican-American roots and shares a compelling interview with Iraís Elizarraraz, CEO and Founder of Sin Título, about her experiences creating her brand, self-advocating, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
While I’m fortunate to celebrate my culture every day through Hispanic pop culture, literature, and cuisines, I often think about the journey that has allowed me to appreciate these rich experiences — beginning with my family.
I am a first-generation Mexican American woman. My parents immigrated to the US seeking the same goal, the American dream. While this story can be told through many lenses, the one I remind myself of is what both my parents and grandparents had to endure to ensure I, and the rest of my family, were given the best opportunities in life. The selflessness that was required of them to leave their homes, family, and quaint life in Mexico for a chance at prosperity in the United States, is truly mind blowing.
This story is not unique, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Let’s run the numbers….
According to USA TODAY:
- Hispanic and Latina women make up just 1.6% of senior executives in the nation’s largest companies.
- Of 92 companies in the S&P 100, 18 had no Latinas in senior executive positions.
- Latinas are also underrepresented as managers (4.4%) and as professionals (3.2%)
When I read these statistics, I don’t feel defeated. Instead, I picture and hear my grandparents’ saying, “¡Échale ganas, Mijita! Estamos muy orgullosos de ti.” (Give it your all! We are very proud of you.) and see the opportunities that lie ahead for not only me but other Hispanics.
So to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month and the importance of representation, I interviewed Iraís Elizarraraz, CEO and Founder of Sin Título. Sin Título is a first generation, Mexican-American apparel brand that focuses on mental health awareness and social justice for BIPOC through its designs and hosting community events to uplift historically marginalized groups.
Sin Título came to fruition in 2020, at a time of dire uncertainty. Social justice, politics, and economic issues were at the epicenter at this time which found Iraís repeatedly advocating and highlighting her perspective and identity. As a result, Sin Título came about as a solution to her own problem.
The story of Iraís Elizarraraz and Sin Título
Sin Título features apparel with unapologetic messaging to elevate marginalized voices. Since the conception of Sin Título, Irais and her sisters have introduced a series titled, ‘Fruits of My Labor: A Mental Health Discussion’ to cultivate therapy in BIPOC communities. In collaboration with mental health experts, they have created community events throughout the Chicagoland area to provide spaces that are welcoming, healing, and unapologetically reiterating, ‘We can’t preach freedom if we don’t free our minds.’
Sin Título’s philanthropy, Home Roots, works to provide educational resources in Álvaro Obregón, México through hoodie sales that are streamlined to fund e-learning tools.
Please visit the Sin Título website to shop, donate, or volunteer!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the meaningful work Iraís Elizarraraz is doing with Sin Título serves as an important reminder to all brands, big or small, that they too have a role to play. Brands have an incredible opportunity to bring light to a cause or initiative and to help raise the voices of historically marginalized groups that can have a direct and profound impact on people (and the world!). If brand efforts are approached with empathy and good intention, as Irais Elizarraraz has shown, people will respond favorably and find ways to support. Because at the end of the day, it may take a brand to shine the spotlight but it’s people who enforce change.
Looking to explore what your brand can do to better support historically marginalized groups? We’re here to help.
Note: Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th because it signifies the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively, while Día de la Raza is observed on October 12th which falls within this 30-day period.
