Meet Alyssa Barreras | Small Business Owner & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Barreras and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started Nomad Made Apparel Co. during my pregnancy with my second child. I’ve always been a really creative individual and with baby number two on the way, I finally decided to take the jump and do something where I could work on my own terms. I wanted to fuel my creativity, do work that’s good for my soul, and most of all, I wanted to be able to be home with my kids.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Nomad Made Apparel Co started with hats. It sounds basic, but I freehand stitch each hat so no two will ever be the same. We also make adventure hoods that are a 6 in 1 convertible cold weather accessory. I am still a start up business and have only been doing this for six months so I have a constant learning curve and it’s definitely a challenge. When I started Nomad Made, I had a plan. I knew exactly what I wanted to make and how it was going to go and I quickly learned that you absolutely cannot have a set in stone plan. I’ve learned, and am still learning, to go with the flow and adjust as needed. I think it’s honestly been the hardest and best thing i’ve encountered so far but it’s also pushed me to believe in myself more and more as I go. I love hats and like items that are unique. So I decided I wanted to try embroidering landscapes on felt hats. I wanted to give people a subtle outlet to express their individuality and to give them a special item that could hold some of their favorite memories. For me, a clothing item can bring back every adventure I went on while wearing it. I want the hats I create to become that special piece for others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Grand Junction but, if I had a friend coming to Colorado to visit I would take them outside everywhere I possible could! Marble, Moab, Colorado National Monument, Rifle State Park, the national forests, and a few secret spots (keep the west wild!). Colorado is too beautiful to not experience it by camping, hiking, and off-roading.

In the grand valley, my must go food places are:
Daylight Donuts in Grand Junction- it’s ran by the sweetest people!
Best Slope in Fruita- they have the best nitro cold brew.
Pablo’s Pizza- get the mac’n’cheese pizza IT’S AMAZING!
Dragon Treasure in Fruita- I drive across the valley for take out.
Cattleman’s in Loma- the cinnamon rolls melt in your mouth.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family and friends have been my biggest supporters by pushing me to believe in myself. I wouldn’t have started Nomad Made without their encouragement and I wouldn’t be able to keep it going without their help. My parents supported my ventures in many artistic trades through my childhood, always letting me try whatever next big project I could dream up. Along with my parents, I had an art teacher in high school that let my creativity flow. She will always be a person I credit with teaching me to explore art and to follow my heart to what it wants to create. That has all opened my skillset to a broad range of mediums which gives me constant inspiration and the desire to grow my artistic capabilities. My husband pushed me to know my worth and has been there to help with anything I ask of him as I have been getting my business up and running. My friends have endured endless texts bouncing ideas off of them and were my first customers. Last, but not least, my cousin owns her own jewelry business and has helped teach me how to start building my customer base and given me a platform to sell my creations on until my business is big enough to take off on it’s own. I owe more thanks to these people than I can express; I wouldn’t be doing this without them.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomad_made/?hl=en

Image Credits
Katie Puc Photography Morghan Leah Lightrae Exposures