In her own voice: Interview with with Lorena Hernandez, Abrazos Outlet Manager

Published April 14, 2023

“As a Mexican woman, I am most proud that I am independent, that I like to work, and that I fight for what I want in life.”
~ Lorena Hernandez, manager of the new ABRAZOS OUTLET in Colonia Independencia

Lorena’s honest voice in this interview speaks to the heart of what we do at Abrazos—mentor young women as managers and seamstresses to have a financially independent life in an interdependent, honorable work environment. I hope you learn as much about Mexican culture as I did from reading Lorena’s answers in this written interview translated from the Spanish. She describes in poetic language growing up in a pre-developed San Miguel and realizing her dreams as a retail manager.

Come visit Lorena at the ABRAZOS OUTLET, open EVERY FRIDAY, 10am to 3pm, Avenida Independencia #72! All the treasures that Abrazos on Zacateros is loved for at great discounts and walls of books!! CASH ONLY. Parking in abundance.

For how years has your family lived in San Miguel de Allende?

My parents were born in San Miguel. My father has 78 years and my mother, 75 years and they have been married for 57 years. I have lived and grown in San Miguel de Allende for my 35 years of life and and seen through the years how San Miguel de Allende grows.

Do you have special childhood memories of growing up in San Miguel?

I have beautiful family memories in the years of my childhood when my parents took the children to the countryside every Sunday to enjoy nature. My mother brought fresh tortillas, salt, beans and salsa. My father cut nopales from the field when we arrived and we cooked them with a fire and heated the tortillas, that was our food in the field. My mom always brought oranges with chili. Sometimes when she had money she would buy corn and we would roast them with the nopales and tortillas.  I was between 6 to 10 years old.

There were 16 children in total, I was the youngest. We all walked together as a family on the roads and hillsides. When it rained we got wet with the water from the sky. We couldn’t ask for more because we knew that there wasn’t enough for more. Because the economy was so tough, my parents couldn’t take us to places. The important thing was to spend time together as a family. We played ball together and laughed a lot. There are now only 11 children living.

What area of ​​the campo did your family visit?

It was known as the land of the jacarandas, off the Dolores Highway, there were many nopales, garambullos, tuna fruits. Maybe there was an owner but the area was not fenced, it was filled with mesquite trees that gave a lot of shade. Then the land was cleaner, prettier. Over time San Miguel began to grow, to build houses and those places full of mesquite trees that gave us shade were finished. The lands where we used to go as a family are gone.

How long have you worked at Abrazos?

I have 11 years working in Abrazos and before Abrazos, I worked at Patrice’s house for 2 years before she met Ernesto Perez. I have worked with Sra Patrice for 13 years and a whole life.

What do you enjoy most about being a manager at Abrazos?

A dream of mine all my life was to work in a store since I was a child. I played “store” with my nieces my own age. When I became old enough to work, the opportunity to work in a store was never given. Until I met Sra Patrice. She asked me to work with her on Sundays from 12 to 4. I gladly told her that if it was one of my dreams. I was delighted because I could work with Sra Patrice and would learn a lot from her. I love my job because I am always learning about the fabric and from the seamstresses what can be done with a piece of fabric, the colors, the designs of the fabric.

My story begins in Abrazos. I never thought I would get to where I am. Being a manager is a lot of responsibility to work together with the seamstresses to supervise each product, each detail so that the client gets the best product with the best quality. And I pay attention to the customer service with custom orders so that the customer leaves happy with their order. I am in love with my job.

What are the differences between working at Abrazos Boutique in Zacateros and working at The Abrazos Outlet Store in Colonia Independencia?

In the Zacateros store I have more responsibilities, such as checking the production of products, serving customers, placing order with seamstresses, checking website and museum and customers special orders, and sending them to the US and MX.

In the Abrazos Outlet in Colonia Independencia, the responsibilities are different because you have to constantly move the products for better sales, label the new sale products that are delivered each week. I enjoy it the same because I like to interact with clients.

What do you enjoy most about working at The Abrazos Outlet Store?

In the Outlet you have the opportunity to talk more with the clients, although sometimes the clients do not speak much Spanish. And I enjoy working more closely together with Sra Patrice because she works in the Outlet with me.

What are the customer’s favorite discounted products in the Outlet?

Since we are open Fridays only, some Fridays we sell more table napkins, oven mitts, tortilla warmers, potholders, tea towels. Other Fridays, more books are sold. Some days, men’s shirts, children clothes, women’s dresses. Other days, more fabrics are sold. Many customers return after their first visit to buy gifts for the holidays.

What is your favorite festival in San Miguel?

Christmas is what I like the most because they are days full of love and peace. I enjoy the lights, the Christmas tree, the posadas and most of all the birth of the baby Jesus.

What is your favorite Mexican food?

Green pozole is my favorite and I enjoy making it for family celebrations.

Who is your favorite Mexican singer and musician?

I like many—Luis Miguel, Cheyenne, Enrique Iglesias, Vicente Fernandes, Juan Gabriel.

What do you like to do when you have free time?

Enjoying my loved ones. My parents are my greatest treasure that I have in life and my dog ​​named Suzy.

What are you most proud of as a Mexican woman?

That I am an independent woman, that I like to work, and that I fight for what I want in life.