Day 6 - Kei and Molly Textiles, LLC

Photo courtesy of Kei and Molly: Idalia Road Market

Today we share a story about two super-moms and how their creative ideas lead to an industrious vibrant textile company in the heart of the international district of Albuquerque. Kei and Molly met through their children, who were both at Bandelier Elementary School. The two developed a tight friendship with many similar interests and decided to enter the Bandelier Holiday Bazaar in 2010 with the idea of creating an economic development project in the international district. Within two hours of the bazaar, all of their products had sold out...they knew they were on to something. "We both have backgrounds working with immigrants and wanted to start a business that would create good jobs in our community," Kei and Molly reflect. Five years later, they now employ five New Mexican women, most of whom are immigrants and artists based in the International District, working to create artisan-quality, hand-printed fabric goods. Since 2010, their business has steadily grown gaining local and national attention. Their textile products, mostly flour-sack kitchen towels, can be found in over 27 states and over two-dozen stores here in New Mexico. 

Photo courtesy of Kei & Molly

The two women express their efforts in bringing industry to Albuquerque, "The International District is one of the poorest areas in Albuquerque, but we see it as a vibrant community with recent immigrants and refugees. Our kids went to school here, Kei's husband teaches in the community, and we see so much positive energy being created in the area. We don't see poverty as a detriment to business, but rather an opportunity to train and work with people who want to contribute to the success of what we are trying to do!"

Each year, the women create two different lines of designs; one in the spring and the other in the fall. They start individually and then collaborate together as they get stuck or need to refine a design. "This is the great part of having a design partner - we have each other to bounce off ideas!" When I met the women, I could see that they both are inspired by one another and encourage each other throughout the creative process. Kei brings printing experience, having shown products at the New York International Gift Fair and worked for designers such as Jonathan Adler and Denyse Schmidt. Molly brings and international and global perspective to the designs being able to speak five languages (wow!) and was a dedicated educator for over 20 years (double wow!). The two would make any business envious of their savvy and creative talents.

A sampling of some of their designs

Although the two are undoubtedly talented, the sweetest part about Kei and Molly is they actively choose to be proactive members of their community as well as environmentally aware business owners. Their studio uses only water-based, non-toxic inks to minimize the impact on the environment. They filter their waste water to 20 microns to keep pigment out of the water system. Their product line is made using only 100% natural fibers. Waste fabric from their production is often recycled into community projects through schools and community groups. 

Their designs have quickly found homes all around the country. Some of the most popular designs include the "Red or Green" chile roaster kitchen towels that are featured in our grand giveaway (giveaway instructions below).
  

You can find their products on their website, in many local stores or catch them this coming weekend December 13th at the Rail Yards Holiday Market.

To be eligible to win the #ChileChicaGiveaway - one item from each of the 12 Days of New Mexico Christmas (valued at over $200!) - you will need to do to the following:

1. Repost your favorite of the "12 Days" as they are posted now through December 23rd on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram - feel free to repost older days you have already read as well!

2. Include the hashtag #ChileChicaGiveaway on all your reposts!

3. Follow New Mexico Chiles; History, Legend and Lore on Facebook.

4. Follow The Chile Film on Facebook.

Post everyday for your best chance to win. Each post will count as an additional entry, limit one per day per social media platform. We will announce the winner on Christmas Eve, and remember to have your privacy settings public so we can see your posts! Happy holidays!

Day 4 - The New Mexico Candle Company

The Browning Family of Rio Rancho founded New Mexico Candle Company in 1971. Bill Browning primarily ran the company until the mid 2000s, when he sold the company. 

Then along came Heather, a former high school math teacher. She taught Algebra 1 and 2 for 8 years in Rio Rancho. She began making candles as a hobby about 10 years ago when she had seen a candle making kit. Heather thought it would be a fun way to use old candles from around the house during her time off from school. She began making candles for friends and family as gifts and started her own website to sell the candles while she was still teaching. Her husband found a listing for a candle company for sale and, with the love and support of her family, she left her career and bought New Mexico Candle Company in August of 2010.  

"I have been lucky to live my dream since," Heather says. "My business is completely family run. I produce all the candles that are sold in our retail location in Old Town and the candles that are shipped across the country through our website and our wholesale sales. Many of the products that we carry, like our pottery, are locally made. We try to support local artists as much as possible." New Mexico Candle Company really is a family affair; her mother, Christine, does the accounting for the company, handles the shipping and helps with the Old Town location and her niece, Opal, is the salesperson at their Old Town location. So when you buy candles from NM Candle Company you know that your money is going directly to a local family in Albuquerque.

All of their candles are hand poured using top quality paraffin wax. The main candle line that has been the backbone of the company are the Sandcast candles. Each candle takes about 5-7 days to create. The candles are poured in large tubs of sand, pulled out and sanded smooth, then hand carved and detailed. With this process, no two candles are exactly alike. When burned properly, the outer shell of the candle will last forever. 

What is better than sending friends and family a small piece of New Mexico. The small Sandcast Casa adorned with mini glass ristras can last a lifetime. Once the candle has burned down you can replace with a small tea light.

Another very popular line of their candles are the Corndles. A couple from Los Lunas started these candles then New Mexico Candle company acquired them sometime in the 1990s. 

Last are their scented candles. New Mexico Candle Company carries about 60 different fragrances and pick up new ones each year.

The Chile fragrances were specially developed by a chemist at one of their fragrance companies (a closely guarded secret for the company). The red and green chile candles are no joke! I have never come across another company that has so accurately captured the smell of roasted chiles. After you light a green chile candle from them, your house will permeate with the delicious New Mexican smell. After I lit mine in the back patio, my neighbors started asking if I was roasting green chiles in my back yard. I had to show them it was a candle because they didn't believe me. That's how accurately they resemble the real roasted green chile smell.

These candles make perfect gifts for those who have moved away from New Mexico, sure you can send them some roasted chile but you can't send them a whole roaster. So with these candles they can have both experiences. It's no wonder the New Mexico Candle Company sells more Red and Green chile candles than any other fragrance.

One of the most popular is of course are the Red and Green Chile scents that are both a part of the GIVEAWAY and are made in beautiful sand bowls. 

To be eligible to win the #ChileChicaGiveaway - one item from each of the 12 Days of New Mexico Christmas (valued at over $200!) - you will need to do to the following:

1. Repost each of the "12 Days" as they are posted now through December 23rd on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram - feel free to repost older days you have already read as well!
2. Include the hashtag #ChileChicaGiveaway on all your reposts!
3. Follow New Mexico Chiles; History, Legend and Lore on Facebook.
4. Follow The Chile Film on Facebook.

Post everyday for your best chance to win. Each post will count as an additional entry; limit one per day per social media platform. We will announce the winner on Christmas Eve, and remember to have your privacy settings public so we can see your posts!