As a first-generation Latina, I grew up determined to work hard and make a better life for myself and my family. Despite a learning disability, I studied all night and graduated at the top of my class. I went on to UC Berkeley, then a doctoral program.

Yet, all along, I knew that the conventional definition of “success” didn’t quite fit. For me, success meant bringing people together to heal; living a life filled with purpose; honoring and serving the divine self. I tried many paths: providing health education for women and migrant workers, becoming a professional makeup artist, and working at a Fortune 500 company.

Then, in 2005, I came across a pair of beautiful, handmade kids shoes designed like little red foxes. I held them in my hand, admiring the fine details — the care and craftsmanship, the creative yet timeless design — and something inside me shifted. In that moment, I found my path to joy.

It meant stepping off the manicured path, into a wilder, riskier, more uncertain place. I didn’t know exactly where it would lead; I only knew I had to follow my heart. I was scared, but I found my courage, and I took the leap.

Today, that same maverick spirit is at the heart of Livie & Luca. We are a beloved apparel brand known for our daring, imaginative designs that support kids’ well-being, inside and out.

But more than that, we are a vibrant community of people who do things differently, who create space to hear each other and be heard, who courageously seek our own paths to joy. I invite you to join us on the journey.