Where’s everybody at??? 👀
Latinx Heritage Month is from September 15th to October 15th
It’s Tuesday, September 10th, am I too early for the company collabs this year?
You know you can always count on the company that celebrates everything (unless politically coerced not to) … yeeesssss Target.
Target
Apparel and Accessories
With their “Mas Que” campaign initiated in 2021, Target offers products that highlight Latin artists and Latin-owned companies. The “Mas Que” (Spanish for “More Than”) marketing campaign is meant to show that there is more to the Latino culture than meets the eye”.
This year’s slogan under the “Mas Que” campaign appears to be, “Simpre por la Cultura”, (Always for culture). If I’m translating that wrong, please let me know.
Siempre por la Cultura is highlighted on sweatshirts and T-shirts for all ages. It also makes an appearance on a couple of accessories. Its floral folk art and contrasting colors make this top hard not to add to my pickup order right now.
One thing you can count on for sure is a dedicated T-shirt and sweatshirt line devoted to the beloved Mexican singer, Junaga (Juan Gabriel). You get 15 options this year. I know they were really popular on social media last year so maybe Target was delivering what the people wanted. I personally think that’s a bit excessive for a line that is supposed to represent 20 Latinx cultures, but, just my humble opinion.
Home
In the Home section, the folk-art vibes are in full effect. Followed by the cooking line, Imusa. A cookware company founded in 1934 in Columbia, that prides its products on being made with plastic, wood, stainless steel, non-stick aluminum, cast aluminum, and hard anodized.
Claiming to be the leading brand of Hispanic housewares, Imusa even offers several different types of coffee makers, a tortilla press, comal (griddle), and a tortilla warmer.
Latinx owned brands
One by one I went through Target’s Mas Que line, searching deep and wide for the promoted Latino-owned brands.
Kids & Baby
While scrolling through Target’s website, you’ll find Huggies, PediaSure, and Johnson & Johnson, grouped under the sections that are supposed to be dedicated to Latinx-owned businesses. Jessica Alba pretty much dominates this department with her company Honest. Right next to the Frida Baby line.
Beauty and Wellness
You’re going to the wrong place if you’re doing a Target run to grab some Tres Flores hair styling gel. You can, however, find Moco de Gorila styling gel at Target. The brand getting all the ad space though is Pacino’s Signature Line.
A few other Latinx beauty and wellness brands highlighted are Rizos Curls, Chillhouse Chill Tips Press on Nails, Beautyblender, Luna Magic, beyou, Kitsch, and It’s a 10.
Food
One of my favorite food brands is Mexican-owned, Siete. Their food items are usually available throughout the year at most major stores. With tortillas, chips, and cookies, one of Siete’s biggest claim to fame is their use of healthier ingredients such as, avocado oil, to cook with.
Other grocery items featured: Cafe Bustelo, Jarritos, Taste Salud, and Somos Foods.
You know, Target just feels like the store I can look forward to every year to celebrate a bright Latino culture campaign of graphic Ts, vinyl records, games, and books.
Disney
Perhaps marketed more prevalently on the Walt Disney World website, Disney is also participating in Hispanic Heritage Month at their California parks and online. WDW with “Together We Are Magia” (Together We Are Magic) and Disneyland with “Culturas Unidas” (Cultures United).
However, their biggest feature overall is their specialized menu items. If you’re not yet in the know, Disney has really stepped up their menus to include more delicatessen-style delights and they are not holding back for Hispanic & Latin American Heritage Month.
It’s nothing like an LA taco truck but, you know, they’re going the distance and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to make my way around the park trying them all.
In addition, there are going to be a lot more Hispanic and Latin American entertainment, creations, and keepsakes in their parks and online to celebrate the month.
Online
Unfortunately, you have to do a bit of a deep dive on the Disney store website if you’re looking for Hispanic/Latin Disney or Pixar characters. Make sure to look up Dante, Ernesto de la Cruz, Hector, Miguel, Coco, and Encanto to find all the new merch they are featured on.
Finally, The Art of Disney in Walt Disney World features 7 Hispanic/Latin Pixar and Disney animation artists. Click on the artist’s names to learn a little more about them.
Gaston Ugarte
Ana Lacaze
Luis Uribe
Yvett Merino
Carlos Cabral
Gabriela Hernandez
Danny Artiga … Unfortunately, information is lacking online for “Danny Artiga”, however, here is a website for Daniel Arriaga, maybe his name was spelled wrong?
Walmart
Say what you will about La Gualmart, their Hispanic Heritage page, although nothing to write home about, does showcase a larger variety in all departments. 1k plus items or so. All of which are included in the Celebration of Hispanic Culture.
I’m talking about the Sofia Vergara line, Suavitel, Tres Flores, Encanto-themed Disney toys, Bebe Fuerte (a Spanish baby toy workout line), bilingual game set, Jabon Zote (soap), Goya food products, Foca laundry detergent, and so many Barbie and Funko Pop options.
Although Target is preferred by many, Walmart still has a larger variety of Latine-owned products to offer.
Ulta
Not only is Ulta shining the spotlight on Latinx-owned beauty products, they kind of outdid themselves with a beautiful feature page “highlighting beauty entrepreneurs” from the community. Adding a few more Hispanic-owned companies to the featured list: Better Not Younger, divi, and Touchland.
Kohls
In the past, Kohls has also participated in celebrating Latinx Heritage Month with a social media and store campaign. Currently, when you go to their website and search Hispanic Heritage Month, it’ll take you to a dedicated page featuring Nopalera (a top Latina-owned beauty brand), “Global Goods”, and Latinx graphic T’s.
Fast Fashion
Amazon and Shein are a couple of the top fast-fashion brands today. So of course they’re going to jump in on featuring Latinx brands for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Amazon
We all know Amazon is the go-to if you need something right away. The searches are fairly quick and easy. So, if you wait until the last minute for a Latinx party theme or class lesson plan, Amazon has got you covered.
This is probably the best time to mention affiliate marketing in this post. I wish I had affiliates for every company above, not the case. But if you’re going to make an Amazon purchase, if you can click that link to Amazon above, I’d greatly appreciate it 🙏🏼.
Shein
With Temu around, are people still buying from Shein? I know I am. IG gets me within seconds, every damn time I click on the app. Their algorithm is far too accurate, showing me the newest arrivals for Latina fashion apparel.
In 2022, Shein released a collaboration with the Frida Kahlo Corporation. Since then, there has been Frida Kahlo apparel always available. You can also find fashion displaying Our Lady of Guadalupe and common Latina-style outfits year-round.
However, if you’re not aware, fast fashion has been criticized for stealing designs, underpaying its employees, and utilizing sweatshops and child labor from other countries … soooo there’s that.
It’s nice to see my culture being represented in so many ways by so many companies.
But, does this one month of celebration feel like enough recognition to all those who identify as Latino/a/e/x and Hispanic? For everything our cultures have contributed to society?
What about corporate America appropriating our cultural designs and financially benefiting from it?
More on that, in the next post.