Tamakid Decoden Workshop at Pinku Studios

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending Tamakid's second decoden workshop at Pinku Studios in Little Tokyo. Evelyn Gonzalez (also known as Tamakid online) is a digital artist, toy collector, youtuber and multimedia artist. She is a Mexican artist with work that is influenced by many different things including Japanese kawaii culture. I first came across Evelyn's work a year ago before the inception of this blog. I was telling one of my close friends, Tanji (who runs a super cute scanned stationary account btw) about my idea for Kawaii y Latina and she immediately told me that I needed to reach out to Tamakid about being featured on the blog. I instantly fell in love with her work and how it feels like it comes from a totally different dimension of all things cute. Things have felt like they've come full circle now that I had the opportunity to cover her workshop for the blog. 

Flyer for the event

When I arrived to the workshop there was a line outside of the shop. By total chance I got in line behind another Latina youtuber, Chiaverse! We chatted about how excited we were for the workshop and ended up at the same table inside, joined by another mutual and reader of the blog whom I finally got to meet. Before the workshop had even started, it already felt like such a special gathering of the sweetest people. Meeting new friends and then getting to craft together felt like the icing (or decoden cream) on the cake. 

@Chiaverse and @Tama_kid

After we walked in, we picked our two deco cream colors and the type of case we were going to decorate. (I brought a clear case for my pink Nintendo DS that I bought specifically for this event). We got settled at our table where we were served the cutest heart shaped flan to snack on while we flipped through some Japanese deco magazines for inspiration. Everyone took turns going up to the charm bar to pick out our share from both Evelyn's handmade charms as well as charms provided by the studio. This was I think one of the funnest parts. The charm bar literally looks like a mini bakery and it was so hard to choose between all of the choices. I went back and forth between all the options before I settled on the charms that would best compliment the chocolate brown and pink theme I was going for.

It got a lot more quiet once everyone got their charms because we were so locked in on getting the charm placement just right. Because of that I was able to hear the music that was playing in the store, which were cute songs I recognize hearing in some Tamakid videos. Not sure if that was intentional but I thought it was a cute detail and really added to the feeling that we were all in an alternate Tamakid universe for the afternoon.

Another highlight was the Tamakid merch booth set up inside of the workshop. There was a line forming before the workshop even started and to no one's surprise, newer items of hers like the photo holder parfaits and chocolate pencil cases sold out right away. I was able to score one of her iconic chocolate deco pocket mirrors, sticker sheets, and a matcha girl themed memo pad. In all the craziness I totally forgot to get one of her posters I've been eyeing so like I'll have to keep an eye out for her next shop update. It was really to sweet how Evelyn has such a supportive group of people around her to help her run the merch booth, passing out supplies, and making sure the whole event ran smoothly. I know from experience how overwhelming event organizing can be, and how much work goes into making everything look effortless. Being on the other side this time was a real treat, and I truly appreciated getting to fully experience the care and thought the Evelyn and her team put into creating something special for everyone who attended.

@_ajmart_ helping out at the merch stand

After we finished our cases, the final step was having them lovingly boxed up by the Pinku staff in special dessert-style boxes, where they would safely dry once we headed out. So many of us stuck around for a bit to take pictures together and exchange Instagram handles to stay in touch before leaving. Since the studio is located in Little Tokyo, my favorite neighborhood in LA, I took the opportunity to shop around and pick up some snacks before heading back home. I could not think of a better way that I could have spent my Saturday! Huge thanks to Evelyn for inviting me and for generously sharing photos for the blog. Be sure to check out her Instagram to keep up with her art and future workshops, and visit her website to shop her work and support her creations.

Candy Candy Cafe

At the end of last year I visited Japan for the second time and I wanted to make it a point to visit the Candy Candy Museum. Candy Candy is a Japanese anime, centering around a young girl named Candy as she navigates growing up as an orphan. Like many people around my age, I would see old reruns on tv and I knew that my mom was a huge fan as well. She has told me before that she grew up watching the show when she was a young girl in Mexico and that she was obsessed with it. I have also come across videos on tik tok of girls surprising their moms with Candy Candy merch or throwing them Candy Candy themed birthday parties. This peaked my curiosity and I wanted to do my research as to why an anime seemed to be so popular in a completely different country.

Turns out the broadcasting rights for the show were low, making it affordable entertainment for Mexican television networks to broadcast. Additionally, the show had the same format as telenovelas, which hooked young audiences. The show had themes that young girls could relate to like friendship, jealousy, and love. It became a staple for young girls in the 70's and 80's, gaining cultural relevance all over the world.

Sepia Cafe in Katsushika City, where the museum is located, was an hour train ride from Tokyo city. We made the mistake of going on a Saturday because it was packed but still worth, especially once we got inside. It is a quaint cafe that feels frozen in time with retro decor and vintage toys filling the walls. The food was not only insanely cute but delicious and there was a page in the menu dedicated to different flavored melon sodas. What I was mainly there for though was the Candy Candy Museum that lives upstairs above the cafe. If I remember correctly I think I paid around 5 USD for admission to the museum.

 

 I was so insanely impressed with the collection of merchandise that is in the Museum. There was literally everything you could think of from manga, toys, clothing, bags, glasses, and even framed original artwork from the show. One that that stood out to me was that a lot of the stuff was unopened and its original packaging, making it so much more rare and impressive considering how old a lot of the items were. As someone who is a collector and gets very passionate about my interests, I could recognize how much love and attention went into curating this collection. Because of a lawsuit between the manga artist and writer of Candy Candy, the manga is out of print and to my knowledge there is no new officially licensed merch in production anymore. The show lives on with it's dedicated fanbase, and this museum is proof of its cultural impact.

Turns out there is one person we have to thank for the existence of this museum. Candy H Milky, who sadly passed last year, was a Candy Candy superfan. They were always dressed in a Candy inspired red outfit. They took matters into their own hands to preserve the history of the show and created the Candy Candy Preservation Society, where they acted as the chairman, the director of the museum, and pretty much the only active member. Their dedication and passion about a show most people don't think much about is so inspiring to me as someone who runs a blog for a niche part of the internet. There is an amazing mini documentary on YouTube if you'd like to hear more about Candy H Milky. They will forever be immortalized in the museum and also their face is imprinted right next to Candy's if you order the pancakes from Sepia Cafe. I definitely recommend visiting both the cafe and the Museum if you are visiting Japan. It was a highlight of my trip and I was so happy I got the chance to document it and share it with you all here on the blog. Would love to hear in the comments if you grew up watching the show! 

Chikas Arsenal - Viviana Flores

Meet Viviana Flores! She is an artist creating accessories that have been making waves all over the internet. Her handmade sailor hats have worn by many including the pop duo The Two Lips, Julia Wolf, and featured in Blondita campaign shoots. With her skill and attention to detail, she is able to create pieces tailored to perfectly match each person's unique style.

Viviana grew up in SoCal, and is heavily inspired by growing up surrounded by Latino culture in Santa Ana. "My fathers side is from Jalisco while my mom was born in Michoacan. I was raised listening to Morrissey (who oddly also has ties to Latino culture) while having family cookouts at mile square park in Santa Ana. That being said, being born in SoCal has impacted me tremendously, leading me to connect to Chicano culture."

Viviana started focusing on her art heavily during covid times when so many of us had a lot of downtime. She started out, and still does, make tote bags with a kawaii touch. A personal favorite of mine is one of her Nana inspired designs. "I'm a very busy body so if I'm not creating I tend to feel stuck. Before I started, Chikas Arsenal, I probably tried just about every art form there is. Even tattooing. I started doing markets with Chikas Arsenal as a way to make money off of my art. This included making tote bags at the beginning as an easy way for people to get adjusted but now it has transformed into a space where I'm allowed to post my creations."

Her relationship to kawaii culture started long before the inception of Chikas Arsenal. "I was raised with an “Interior designer” mom who grew up with peak Sanrio, so cute things were always placed around me. At a certain point my parents were resistant to buying me a $40 plushy as a Child, so when I finally got my first paycheck. Sanrio did not know what to see coming. I have toned down my obsession with plushies, but still continue to collect rare monchichi’s." Viviana, I think you need to make a monchichi sized sailor hat...

I love seeing creative Latinas get the recognition they deserve and Vivian's work is so refreshing to see in a time when fast fashion is so prevalent. "The quality I put into my work never fails to impress. Everything is made by hand and with love. I've been inspired by photography and styling from Mexico city that plays a large part in the aesthetics of Chikas Arsenal." You can shop Chikas Arsenal on her site here and keep up with her on social media here.

Kawaii y Latina - Shopping Master List

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, I put together a master list of artists and businesses that inspire me and have that Kawaii y Latina vibe. I created different categories to hopefully make it a bit easier to navigate. I hope to continue working on growing this list even after the holidays to create a resource to help support small businesses all year round. Earlier this year when the blog blew up a bit on TikTok, I got so many submissions. It’s been hard to feature everyone one by one, so this master list is another way for me to share all the amazing people with you all. You can find the link to the list here! Happy shopping and Happy Holidays! 

Shopping Master List

Finding Mexican Culture in Japan

I’m back! After two weeks in Japan I’m back home and excited to be posting on the blog again. This was my second time visiting Japan and this time around I kept an eye out for all the Latino culture I came across to share on the blog.

One of the first stops I made was in Osaka. I hadn’t visited before but like many people, I had seen the coverage online about Chicano culture embraced by the youth living in Osaka. Being a Mexican American living in Southern California, where Chicano culture got its origins, I was super intrigued about seeing it for myself. After something internet sleuthing, I found where those that participate in the cultural exchange tend to hang out. Amerikamura is a small district in the city where there are plenty of stores selling clothes influenced by western culture. Just a few feet a way in a building on the eighth floor is the clothing store La Puerta. They exclusively sell typical Chicano style clothing, think dickies, FB County, flannels, and LA football and baseball jerseys. Their Instagram also is updated with events they host including lowrider meet ups. Sadly I was missing the next one by just a few days but I did get to see some cool cars parked outside the store.

The next spot was back in Tokyo. Tacos 3 Hermanos is a taco chain in Japan with multiple locations serving street style tacos. It is notably difficult to find ingredients to make authentic Mexican food in Japan, but this place does a great job of bringing a taste of Mexico to Tokyo. Harajuku is the most popular location with a line forming before it even opens in the evenings. On this trip I was staying closest to the Ebisu location, which was conveniently open earlier too. This location was a lot more quiet with no wait and more tables. Something I found especially cute about this location were some Mexican mascot plushies they had sitting along with their merch. Dr Simi of Farmacia Similares (a Mexican pharmacy) and Cruzazulito of Cruz Azul ( a Mexican cement company) were plopped on a shelf which was a cute detail of Mexican culture added to the taco shop. Seeing the Mexican mascots on display was a clear cultural parallel to Japan's Yura-chara, which are character's designed to promote businesses, events and even singular cities.

Experiences like these highlight the fascinating ways cultural identities travel and evolve. Latino culture is really everywhere and I have so much fun documenting and sharing my observations. I also teased on an Instagram story that during this trip I visited somewhere special that I'll have a whole blog post dedicated too coming soon so keep an eye out for that!  

Candy Couture

I'm super excited about today's spotlight! We are talking to Candy aka @xxCandyCouturexx. She is a fashion designer, stylist and a Gyaru enthusiast. If you haven't heard of Gyaru it is a fashion subculture that emerged in Japan in the 90s. It includes dramatic makeup, big hair and colorful clothes. There is also different substyles of Gyaru so there is so much inspiration to delve into.

Childhood photo of Candy

What I love most about Candy's take on Gyaru is how she mixes her indigenous style along with it. "My family is de pueblos originarios in Tehuantepec & Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca. After living with family in Mexico in my teens, I developed an intense passion for my roots. Being able to live in my family’s pueblo surrounded by loved ones, community, and connecting with the culture had inspired me."

I was super curious to hear about how she got into Gyaru style and it turns out she has always been into alternative fashion. "One of my favorite scene queens on Instagram at the time had mentioned Gyaru which led me down the rabbit hole and to this day, I’ve never found a style that completes me more." I totally picked up on the scene vibes with her style, especially with Candy's colorful hairstyles. I also asked Candy what Gyaru brands she likes to shop for she suggested brands like Skinny Lip, D.I.A, Lip Service, and Alba Rosa. I'm hyped to do a deep dive on those later. 

"Showing pride for my Oaxacan heritage while also still being true to my self expression was what had me blending the two. What I love about Gyaru is that it rebels against colonial beauty standards and embraces dark skin. It’s the perfect subculture for those who are unapologetically themselves despite living in a time where people like us are made to feel inferior."

Candy between two models wearing her designs

Do you have other Latinas in your life who share your love for Gyaru or kawaii style? It often feels like we’re a bit scattered around the world.

Where I grew up, it was definitely hard finding others and it wasn’t until I started stepping into the underground rave scene that I continue finding other Latines who love kawaii styles. It really is challenging when you don’t know where to start but once you find them, it’s heart warming for sure.

What else has inspired your style?

My older siblings were my biggest inspiration growing up in the early 2000s. I was 13 when my oldest brother took me to my first warped tour. He was emo and loved anime which influenced my own interest. I was binge watching anime back to back while also pirating my favorite band’s music on my tablet. My 2nd older brother and I were also into cosplay at this time, always finding inspo on tumblr which introduced us to harajuku fashion and I think that’s how my spark for my style really came to be.

What has your experience been like being a part of the online gyaru community?

It has been so sweet connecting with others online especially fellow brown gals! Building that community and supporting each other is extremely meaningful to me. I think it’s important that we show love and kindness to one another. I know a lot of drama can go down in some parts but I think that just further proves the significance of finding others who understand the importance of community.

Huge thanks to Candy for letting me pick your brain. Your unapologetic self expression is so inspiring! <3 You can keep up with Candy on Instagram & TikTok for future brand updates as well as Depop @CandyCouturee for pre-loved kawaii fashion pieces. You can also reach out to her to book styling services.

Kawaii y Latina Icon: Isabella Lovestory

 

Merch and after party flyer from her show at the Echoplex 10/18

This past weekend I saw Isabella Lovestory, a Honduran pop star that is one of the most Kawaii y Latina - coded artists I know of. This was the second time I've been able to see her live as she is currently on tour performing her newest album Vanity that she released earlier this year. To me it is totally a no skip album. If you haven't heard of her already some great tracks to start with are her most popular song Mariposa as well Latina, which is absolute pop banger and ode to Latinas. 

Credit: Isabella Lovestory official website

Apart from being a talented musical artist, she also is a fashion icon - and with a song called Fashion Freak, she knows it. Her music videos are full of iconic looks and even just by scrolling on her Instagram you can see how much time she puts into style. At her show this past weekend her outfit was pink and sparkly with Y2k inspired hair. The crowd was pumped and the best way to describe her stage presence is like if  Kpop Idol was Latina. She really puts on such an amazing show.

Credit: Isabella Lovestory official website

Below are some pictures I got on my phone at the concert! If you guys have any suggestions other Kawaii y Latina Icons in music you'd like to to spotlight leave them down below in the comments!

xoxo

-Nathalie 

Latina performed live at the Echoplex 10/18