We had the good fortune of connecting with Chloe Sosa-Jarrett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chloe, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of my brand is that I keep it as true to who I really am as possible. In a world where “authenticity” has become a buzzword, it can be really tempting to craft a persona or brand identity that is trendy instead of building on long-held values. I decided early on that if at any point I felt I couldn’t be whole myself while representing my brand, I would stop and reevaluate my circumstances. As a result, I have not only built a really strong, supportive community of people who love what Barrio Letterpress stands for but also attracted one ideal client after another. Sometimes it’s not easy to put yourself out there so wholly but I think more often than not, you’ll find that the folks for whom your story resonates will be drawn to supporting your journey.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Sometimes I still cringe a little at the idea of calling myself an artist but I’m learning to lean into the discomfort! I built a career as a classroom educator, something I know I am really gifted at but still felt called to explore this other way of sharing my creativity with others. I’ve been creating with my hands in many different ways as long as I can remember so when I felt inspired to start my design company, I knew the business part would be the greatest learning curve. The good thing is that I’m not afraid to ask questions and I’m even less afraid to do research until I feel I confidently understand something. That said, that’s probably the most important thing I pass along to my clients that are also entrepreneurs — this will be a million times harder if you’re not willing to try things, fail and then try something else. Barrio has proven time and again that I am more resilient than I give myself credit for and I appreciate that growth.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
You’d have to publish an entire magazine dedicated to adequately shouting out all those who have supported me along the way! I immediately think of my community, which can be defined in so many ways, as beyond deserving of props for being apart of my story. I’m talking everyone from those who are willing to listen as I process new ideas aloud to my occasionally oppositional team of heavy equipment movers. I do what I do for my community which is why the name “Barrio” is so important to me. This is really a community effort and I couldn’t be more proud or grateful.

Website: https://www.barrioletterpress.com

Instagram: @barriopress

Image Credits
Photo credits (all images) – Amanda Domenech http://aleethal.com/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.