FAHM Feature: How Esmiralda Garcia Bridges Filipinx Values and American Culture | Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce

Oct 29th, 2021

Esmiralda Garcia shares new life with her customers through her handmade creations. By incorporating succulents into many of her items at Esmiralda Garcia Designs, she’s found a special passion for each project, whether it’s making custom stationery, branding designs, or printing collateral for special events.

“My love for succulents began after the stillborn death of our daughter, Camille Elyse, in 2018. As I grieved, I found comfort in the care of succulent plants and handcrafted gifts,” Esmiralda said. “It was a creative and therapeutic outlet that blossomed into delicate succulent and floral creations, which led to the launch of my Etsy shop.”

As she grows her customer base, Esmiralda shares the comfort and creativity she finds in her work with the people who take home her creations. With every new customer met, she shares not only her designs, but also a piece of her cultural story.

“I am proud to be Filipino American. I was born in Charleston, South Carolina but spent my childhood in Manila, Philippines until I was 12 years old,” Esmiralda said. “Although I missed my family in the Philippines, I assimilated to the American culture with ease. It was very important to bridge my Filipino values into my American culture. The same holds true for the soul of my business.”

Every design and creation is made with those values in mind, and implementing succulents is part of that. The business owner said, “The beauty and resiliency of the Philippines draws a strong correlation to the life of succulent plants.”

Before she held the title of owner and designer at Esmiralda Garcia Designs, Esmiralda graduated from Sacramento State with a graphic design degree. She worked in the industry for 12 years before becoming a freelancer and stay-at-home mother following the birth of her second son.

“Besides being a small business owner, I take on many roles such as wife, mother, daughter, and friend. Balancing these roles is often challenging yet rewarding at the same time,” Esmiralda said.

Holding multiple roles at once is already a feat, but the pandemic lead to even more responsibilities. She said, “As events were cancelled, I was forced to make more creations accessible online and found myself navigating virtual workshops on Zoom. Being tech savvy has its perks.”

The designer is also expanding her product base and recently started an apparel line. As a passionate self-care advocate, Esmiralda hopes to help destigmatize mental health, and her apparel is printed with her personal mantra: “You are enough.” While she shares words of affirmation with her customers, Esmiralda also found the same support in the small business community in Sacramento.

“I’ve met so many people at my events or on social media. Everyone from small business owners, crafters, to simple admirers have shown great support and an outpouring of encouraging words,” she said. “Continue to shop small!”

Here’s where you can find Esmiralda Garcia Designs:
Etsy shop: DesignsByEsmiralda
Instagram: @esmiraldagarciadesigns
Facebook: @EsmiraldaGarciaDesigns