The story behind the name: CaroQuilla
The CaroQuilla (pronounced Ka-ro-Key-ya)
As we embarked on our mission to design and produce the most amazing women’s underwear in the world, we knew we needed a great brand name. Something that would resonate with what we were trying to accomplish.
Caro was my nickname growing up, short for Carolina, my middle name.
Quilla is for the Incan goddess Mama Quilla. She was the defender of women and the goddess of the moon and the menstrual cycle.
Put them together and you get CAROQUILLA!
Our mission:
To Love Yourself As You Are
After years in retail, my most impactful experience occurred in the change room with women as a bra fitter for Nordstrom. Time and time again there would be something they didn't like about themselves. I saw women at their most vulnerable... In front of a mirror.
If we are skinny, we wish we had curves. If we have curves, we want to be thinner. If we are big-chested, we want to be petite. Flat-chested, we wish for big ones. Boobs were too saggy or misshaped. Nipples were too big or in the wrong place. Ashamed of their stretch marks, cellulite, natural rolls, or birthmarks. My body is not in proportion, I have terrible skin. The self criticism was varied, but the consistent thing was they all had something they disliked.
This job taught me so much
So much about myself and made me reflect on many things about myself. Seeing this first hand lead me to where I am today. In my job as a bra fitter I learned that clearly I was not the only woman that had issues with how I viewed myself or spoke about myself. During those fitting sessions I became more like a coach than a sales advisor. These beautiful women would open up to me and express their feelings of shame and self criticism. It became apparent that this was a common theme amongst so many of us. Toxic body image.
How we negatively viewed our bodies and how awful we describe our bodies. Never seeming to give ourselves permission to see ourselves or call ourselves beautiful.
How is it that we talk to ourselves in ways we would never accept or stay quiet about if it was someone else saying it to a friend?
Starting Caroquilla, my mission was to not only build a business, but to build a community that encourages everyone to genuinely love and accept themselves.
Embrace your body, feel confident! The minute we change our perceptions, even a little bit each day, we start to realize the truth that we are beautiful inside and out.
Our vision is that every every time you see yourself in the mirror in our undies, you are reminded to love yourself just as you are.
I believe with all my heart
"Self-Talk" and self-image go together.
How is it, that we talk to ourselves in ways we would never accept, or tolerate if it was someone else saying such things to a friend?
Starting Caroquilla, my mission was to not only build a business, but to build a community that encourages everyone to genuinely love and accept themselves.
Embrace your body, feel confident! The minute we change our perceptions, even a little bit each day, we start to realize the truth that we are beautiful inside and out.
Our vision is that every every time you see yourself in the mirror in our undies, you are reminded to love yourself just as you are.
When starting Caroquilla I wanted to make a positive impact on our environment.
I will never present myself as a perfect environmentalist far from it. There is so much more I can. But I genuinely feel every small step I take has a positive impact, even if it's small.
Why did we choose Bamboo as our main fabric?
It’s true that there are many “eco-friendly” fabrics out there.
We researched them all and chose bamboo
For a few key reasons. For one, it is one the most sustainable plants on the planet. It requires no irrigation, that means more water for the planet. Bamboo can be grown organically requiring no pesticides, no insecticides, and no fertilizers. A bamboo plantation produces up to 35% more oxygen than other crops with the same footprint. And it absorbs four times as much carbon than an equivalent area of hardwood trees, thus improving air quality.
Our regular underwear is made in one continuous loop.
Why Does That Matter?
* No side seams mean no itchy stitches or seams.
* More consistent sizing.
* It saves material with no overlap.
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* Our organic Bamboo weave is 240GSM,
Why does that matter?
A nice thick jersey that is comfy and luxurious.
It allows for a 4 way stretch for comfort that stays in place.
A stronger material for greater longevity.
Everyone should have access to comfortable, well made clothes. Inclusivity is really important and we offer sizes from XS-3X. As we grow as a company we will expand our offering to include even more.
Our product is made in Certified organic bamboo. Our underwear has been successfully tested for harmful substances and certified according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX [SHKO 106371 TESTEX]
Our Supply Chain
Quality organic bamboo basics designed in Winnipeg and ethically made where Bamboo actually grows in its natural environment in the South Part of china.
We are working to be Plastic-free.
We are far from perfect.
Our first product line arrived to us in small recyclable plastic bags. This was our first painful lesson. One we apply to all supply chain relationships now. Every last detail has to be scrutinised when it comes to plastic. We continue to work really hard to get rid of any plastic use from our supply chain. We limit journeys. For us as people and for our product. Our shipping bags are compostable. We work to ensure we reduce the amount of things to dispose of and find ways to keep the carbon footprint as low as possible. We care deeply about the environment and look to ways to improve, but don’t call ourselves environmentalists. We respect those who truly are, and strive to learn from each of them. For us, we are doing a bit everyday to reduce our footprint. We are learning everyday, adapting and educating those around us on new approaches. It takes effort to stay updated on this fast rapidly changing world on sustainability. We remain committed to this.
Community is very important to us.
Supporting Women/advocating for Mental Health.
CaroQuilla gives 1% of our sales to mental health initiatives.
When sadness and anxiety took control of me, it led me to a dark period of my life. Then, in the spring of 2015 I began to change my habits by focusing on healing my body. Through nutrition, exercising, engaging in activities and asking for help I found a path to living an enjoyable life. I am not free of pain, but I work at it every day to release this inner pain. I believe real healing is possible but it takes courage and effort to build new habits needed. I am very grateful to be where I am today, but also grateful for the challenges I faced. Because of these struggles and by finding ways to cope, I am who I am today.
I am committed to giving back and remembering where I came from. Along with sharing profits, I volunteer at Mood Disorder Association of Manitoba . Through this amazing organization I’ve been able to facilitate a women's wellness group throughout the year. This is a key part of my continuing recovery and as a way of giving back to our community.
Introducting The Founder
Meet Maria
My Name is Maria
I am the oldest child of 4, raised by a single mother. I was born in El Salvador and came to Canada at the age of 11, following my mother who had arrived years before us as a refugee. My mother brought us to Canada to escape the civil war and give us safety and better opportunities. In so many ways, a better life.
Being the oldest child of 4 and raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to keep food on the table and clothes on our backs, I learned the value of hard work and the potential of what one woman can do when she is determined to build her future.
Many people ask me if I have been back to El Salvador, and the answer is yes, I've been back only once. As a child, what I witnessed in the civil war has left me with long lasting trauma. I am only now learning to recall what happened without being stricken with fear and anxiety. I know I did not suffer as badly as many back home, but recognize that no one should witness and experience what I did. My healing journey is far from over.
Inclusive is a word thrown around a lot these days. It is something important to us and a guiding principle in all we do at CaroQuilla. First and foremost, we feel it is important to show our product on bodies that look like yours. All the models you see on our website and in social media are real women who believe in what we do, love our product and have been courageous enough to be photographed in what most of us see as our most vulnerable. In our undies!
Being a new brand, our team is small but powerful! Our team is made up of Myself and my partner JP. We also partner with some amazing professionals who support what we do.
As a new company we are continuing learning and striving to improve our product or service. If you have feedback or questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.