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Cafecito with Latin Biz Today Podcast
Join us for a very special episode of the Latin Biz Today podcast,"Cafecito with Latin Biz Today " hosted by our own Christina Treviño where she interviews inspiring Latine entrepreneurs. This time the tables are flipped on Christina as she's interviewed by Latin Biz Today colleague, Teany Hidaldgo about how she first got into the fashion business.
Christina Treviño, a powerhouse who has spent over 20 plus years in the fashion industry, opens up about her incredible journey, from her early days of inspiration, to starting at the bottom of the ladder as a gritty assistant designer sketching late into the night to taking the monumental leap of launching her own successful company. Get ready for an inspiring conversation filled with candid stories, lessons learned, and the passion behind building a fashion empire from the ground up.
Christina Treviño's Chronicles Podcast
Welcome to the "Christina Treviño's Chronicles", a podcast series we explore the vibrant stories and traditions of Mexican American culture and other cultures, one family at a time. Join Christina as she shares her love for storytelling and invites you to discover the magic behind the books.
Each episode is a celebration of heritage, filled with enchanting tales, delicious recipes, and fun craft ideas. We’ll talk with incredible guests who are building brands and preserving traditions through their own creative journeys. From the secrets of a grandmother's kitchen to the rhythmic steps of a folk dance, we'll dive into the beautiful traditions that shape our lives.
Whether you're looking for a bedtime story, a new recipe, or inspiration for your next family project, "Christina Treviño's Chronicles" is a place to connect, create, and celebrate the richness of culture.
Christina Treviño's Childhood Dreams to Today
From the age of four, Christina Treviño was certain of her future: she would be a fashion designer. The daughter of two Mexican American parents who grew up in southern Texas towns with limited means and resources, Christina was raised with a strong foundation of entrepreneurial skills. Her parents, who had been migrant workers in their youth, taught her the value of hard work, education, and self-confidence. They were unique in that they encouraged her to pursue her creative passions, a rarity among her own circle of friends whose parents either didn't push for secondary education or pushed for traditional, steady careers as doctors, attorneys, or accountants.
Creativity was ever-present in her childhood home. Her father, an electrician at General Motors, had a great ear for music and filled their house with the sounds of Tejano music from his accordion and guitar. Her mother, who was sometimes referred to as the "Latin Barbie," had a passion for fashion and learned to sew from her grandmother. She would make dresses for herself and her sister to wear to local dances. This passion led her to open a bridal shop in the family's basement in Defiance, Ohio.
This home-based boutique became Christina's first creative studio. She recalls watching brides see themselves fully transformed in a large mirror, an experience that left a lasting impression. She would try on the new flower girl dresses and eagerly collect leftover fabric scraps to design elaborate clothes for her Barbie dolls. Her mother taught her to sew, starting with a needle and thread and progressing to a sewing machine, which solidified Christina's skills.
Her path was clear: she attended Bowling Green State University and then transferred to the acclaimed Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. As the first person in her family to complete a college education, it was a proud milestone. New York became her springboard into the industry, where she spent many years working her way up from an entry-level Assistant Designer to an Executive Design Director, leading large teams and collaborating with major brands and celebrities.
As the industry shifted and became more focused on low cost than great design, Christina knew it was time to build her own legacy. She launched Tocaya Design in 2018, using her designer's eye to craft her brand as a unique story, working with clients who shared her vision for quality design and production. This creative approach prepared her for an even deeper form of expression. In the summer of 2025, she began collecting her written and mental notes curated from from time in South Texas as a young girl and her rich Mexican American heritage and weaving them into stories. Using her designer's talent for structure and her deep understanding of her family's narrative, she is now shaping these collected memories into something vibrant, magical, and truly her own.
Making her journey full circle, in the summer of 2025, she decided to take all of her collected notes about her trips to South Texas and her Mexican American heritage and turn them into stories. These stories, she realized, were magical and different from anyone else's, a unique collection waiting to be shared. This new passion for storytelling has become a joyful pursuit as she sees how relatable her work is to others in the Latine community, leading her to design companion workbooks and materials to help engage young children and make reading a joy.