During his time at Cornell University,
Mauricio decides to participate in an entrepreneurship competition, where he comes
to know of a type of water filter that’s highly effective, as well as conventional – ideal
for rural communities with limited resources.
And it’s right then and there that he decides
he wants to bring these filters to Mexico; although at the time he didn’t have the financial aid needed to perform such an operation.
at first, only one shirt model was in stock,
and the project has diversified to the point
where today there are more than 13 different shirt models, even Polo shirts and
sweatshirts, for both men and women.
As every new product does, Dos Banderas
has to undergo a maturity process in order
to establish themselves as a leading clothing
brand – primarily by making sales all over Mexico and not only in the North. Fully aware of
“I thought, `how do I do it?’ `how do I gath- his company’s current state, Mauricio doesn’t
er the necessary funds to do this?’ So I decide hide from its reality, though he doesn’t let
I’m going to create a Mexican clothing brand, this reality overshadow his long-term vision.
and for each shirt sold I will give on of these water filters to a person in need. I’m going to cre-
Arechavaleta admits, “The filters are a
ate a sustainable company that will not rely on short term solution. I want to, later on, prodonations to survive, and I will make deliveries duce or purchase large pumps; technologies
all over the country” says Mauricio about his that purify water for years and years. The perthen-new project: Dos Banderas (Two Flags). sonal filter [we currently distribute] purifies a
little more than 264 gallons of water and has a
lifespan of roughly two years, while the family
filter has a lifespan of roughly six and a half
years, purifying about 4,755 gallons of water.”
He tells us more about how the competition – which consisted of about 200 entrepreneurs – was won, as well as how he
motivated himself to make the project a reality. Though the brand’s development has
been gradual, it has never stopped growing;
Even though there may not be a whole
lot of direct competition (in Mexico) as far as
brands with altruistic means, Dos Banderas
remains a unique brand, given that it’s “100%
Mexican; the fabric is bought in Mexico, and
the shirts are produced in the country as well.”
And it’s precisely these types of details – as
well as the impact that is made today in rural communities – that separate this project
from other companies in the same industry.
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