Mi Golondrina Debuts Its Houston Hacienda
Dallas-based Mi Golondrina debuted its Houston Hacienda in Rice Village, which will be open through March 12.
Mi Golondrina, the Dallas-based brand known for its vibrant pieces hand-embroidered by Mexican artisans, now has a semi-permanent presence in Houston.
The company debuted its "Houston Hacienda" earlier this month in Rice Village, where it will occupy a 2,500-square-foot retail space (right across from the brand-new Sweetgreen) for six months—a first in Mi Golondrina history.
Fans of the brand flocked to 2528 Amherst St. for a first look at the homey, art-filled space—plus churros, margs, and a live mariachi band—during the the pop-up's September 12 grand opening party.
Mariachi perform at Mi Golondrina's Houston fiesta.
The Houston Hacienda features the entire Mi Golondrina collection of women's and children's pieces, its custom finish program, and exclusive editions of the brand's popular Valle Feliz and Santa Maria blouses.
The label is best known for its colorful, traditional cotton dresses and shirts with detailed, hand-stitched embroidery—each piece its one-of-a-kind. Passionate about empowering female artisans in Mexico, Mi Golondrina partners with over 450 women in small villages there, providing them with sustainable income (all are paid fair wages) that allows them to work in their homes while caring for their families.
Dallas native Cristina Lynch founded Mi Golondrina after a lifetime of inspiration from her mother's rich Mexican heritage and, more recently, years spent in New York City pursuing a career in fashion. There, she noticed a lack of high-end, hand-made pieces that "represented the beauty and traditions of Mexico that I knew and loved," she says. "I wanted to bring the vibrant colors, the softness of the fabric, and the art of embroidery to the modern-day woman."
She moved home to Texas to do just that, launching her company in 2013. Shortly after, Bailey McCarthy—the local founder/owner of Biscuit Home—introduced Lynch to the Houston market, and 2014 saw Mi Golondrina's first pop-up here. The company has maintained strong ties to H-Town ever since, with a a loyal customer base that turned out for this month's fiesta.
The Houston shop feels like home thanks to art from Lynch's and her mother's personal collections.
"We are a very customer-driven brand and always love hearing where customers want to see us," Lynch says. "Houston has always been such a wonderful community to us, and we're excited to finally be there for an extended stay as Houston Hacienda."
Much like Mi Golondrina's Dallas flagship, the Houston Hacienda feels warm and not unlike someone's actual home—helped by the fact that the store is filled with accessories and art from Lynch's and her mother's personal collections paired with pieces from Lynch's aunt, designer Jan Barboglio.
The museum-like "artisan wall" tells the stories of the women behind Mi Golondrina's traditional Mexican designs.
The store is large enough to also be part museum: An "artisan wall" showcases the company's Mexican partners in a collection of photographs, detailing the women's stories and the process behind the enduring, centuries-old craft at the center of each Mi Golondrina piece.
Mi Golondrina at Rice Village, 2528 Amherst St., open thru March 12. On September 30 and October 1 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., the Houston Hacienda also hosts a pop-up with high-end stationery and gift store Ellis Hill.
