We had the good fortune of connecting with Mitz Pérez-Tapia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mitz, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Hello!

Growing up here in Dallas, I saw love for Mexican arts everywhere—restaurants, friends’ parents’s homes, etc. When I moved to Mexico after college, I had the privilege to travel around the country and get to know the different mediums, techniques, and influences of Mexican craft. Coming back to visit home, I started to realize that what was being sold commercially in the US and what was being sold to US tourists in Mexico was not only unrepresentative of the true scope of Mexican arts, but most of it was cheap counterfeits that weren’t even made in Mexico.

So after I moved back to Dallas from NY in 2021, I decided I wanted to work on elevating the variety of Mexican craft that was accessible here.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The most important part of my store is its beating heart—the artisans. My shop proudly pays all the artisans I work with their full asking retail price for every single object purchased. There is absolutely no haggling or wholesale pricing in any phase of sourcing. The store has operated this way since day one.

My shop stands out from other Mexican artesanía shops because of its sourcing and its commitment to avoiding repetition. It’s uncommon to find identical pieces in my shop.

Because I have the privilege to travel back and forth with ease, I decided that the best thing for my store would be to bring back art that isn’t commonly seen. For sourcing, I personally travel to small artisan towns to find artisans/new crafts techniques and mediums. I get to hand select every single piece that is in my shop, so the store is this wild cornucopia of bright Mexican cultures.

There was some outside advice sought out early on, but I kept hearing that my business model of bringing unique pieces was irrational. However, personally speaking, the ennui of repetition is to be avoided at all costs. Since then its been predominantly trial and errror, by far. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that having faith in myself and my abilities is the most valuable asset any business owner can possess.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well as soon as they got here I’d take them to stretch out their legs and walk Turtle Creek/Katy Trail. Since we’d work up a big appetite we would go to dinner at Kalachandjis. Next day we would walk on over to have coffee and do a puzzle at Union in their outdoor area. Afterwards we would get ready and head out to lunch at Koryo Kalbi in old Korea town, and then new Korea town to walk off lunch and get snacks for home from H Mart. Then we’d come back to binge a show and have some tea. Next day we’d do an outdoor lunch at Parigi; we’d take a little graffiti stroll around Fabrication and maybe do some shopping in Bishop Arts; and, we would finish the evening with some late bites and martinis at Cosmo’s. It’s me so I’d probably bring them out to a pop up to see what I do and meet some of the amazing local artists and vendors I’ve gotten to work with. Post pop up we would get some falafel sandwiches and to-go baklava from Afrah. Next day we’d would go bouldering and then end up on the patio at Lee Harvey’s because they have the best onion rings in the world.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout is dedicated to my abuelita (Nisia) and my mother.

My grandmother taught me to do everything with love, and she inspired me to start my shop.

When I started the store, I was working 80+ hours a week between my job and the store in order to come up with my store investments; my mother was the single most valuable help I had during this time. From packing orders to sourcing to being at every single pop up I had my first couple of years—she has been the backbone of my shop.

Website: https://CasaNisia.com

Instagram: @CasaNisia

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/CasaNisiaTX

Other: TikTok @CasaNisia

Image Credits
All pictures taken by me (Mitzinta Pérez-Tapia) with my own phone camera.

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