Let’s get something out of the way right now: Not all “Made in China” is created equal.
You’ve seen the $3 garden belt on Temu. The $5 whatever on Shein. The price tags so low they make you wonder if there's a tiny goblin somewhere doing unpaid labor.
And here I am—with a product that costs real money. And yeah, my stuff is also made in China.
Confused?
Don’t be. Because here’s the deal: in China, you get what you pay for. The same country making those $2 tote bags is also producing bags for Chanel, Apple, and yes—me. The difference isn’t the country. It’s the choices you make.
I don’t cut corners. Not on design, not on stitching, not on the full-grain leather, not on the hardware, and definitely not on the people behind the process. I’m obsessed with details, and if it’s not built to last, it doesn’t get made.
Here’s something most people don’t realize: the mega brands—the Zaras, H&Ms, and Big Guys of the world—get rock-bottom prices because they place massive orders. Tens of thousands of units. The factory doesn’t care if their margins are tiny, because volume makes it worth it.
But me? I’m a one-woman brand placing small runs. There’s no bulk discount. No special treatment. No “founder of Gaucha gets a free ride” magic. I’m paying premium prices for a premium product—even higher than what some top brands pay. Just to make it this good.
And yeah, that makes growing slower. I can’t flood the market with cheap stock. I don’t sell illusions of quality—I sell the real damn thing. Built strong. Built beautifully. Built by people who know what the hell they’re doing.
So why do I keep going?
Because I believe in it. With stupid amounts of faith. With grit. With way too many spreadsheets and probably not enough wine. Because I know that the only way to build something that matters is to refuse to cut corners—even when it costs more, takes longer, and feels like a fight uphill.
So next time someone says “Oh, but it’s made in China,” I’ll say: Yeah, and I paid top dollar to make it right.