CULTURAL CLOTHING
WBY DANIELLE BRODY hen Vanessa Gonzalez
talks about her store, Anoria
Boutique, she uses the
word “we” instead of “I”
— even though it’s a onewoman
operation.
Gonzalez runs the store,
posts on social media, sources and
buys merchandise, assists and rings
up shoppers, processes custom
orders, and more. But the products she
sells make her feel like she’s a part of
something bigger because she buys
from artisans in Mexico.
“Every artist is part of the store,” she
said.
Gonzalez, who was born in Mexico
and grew up in Astoria, has an
appreciation for artisans in her home
country who can spend anywhere from
days to months to create original pieces
using traditional methods. During the
pandemic, she heard that her friends
and family members were trading their
work for food just to get by.
“It broke my heart,” she said,
especially because she knows the value
of what they make.
Meanwhile, Gonzalez and her family
also struggled. She and her mom both
lost their jobs. Gonzalez had always
worked in retail, and she started making
26 JUNE 2 0 2 1
EXPLORE YOUR BORO
Anoria Boutique brings Mexican apparel to Astoria