Photo: Alpine Parrot
National Hispanic Heritage Month (inclusive of Latine, Latino, Latinx heritage, which you can read about here) recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latine Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. We want to recognize the individuals in the outdoor industry who are not only creating incredible initiatives and products but who are working to make the outdoors more inclusive. You can celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by getting to know these five Hispanic and Latine brands and organizations.
Alpine Parrot
Photo: Alpine Parrot Instagram
First up, Alpine Parrot, started by one of our very own Coalition Ambassadors, Raquel Vélez. Raquel started Alpine Parrot to make space for all sizes and ethnicities in the outdoors—specifically in response to the lack of inclusive sizing. They make outdoor apparel that actually fits and performs for women sizes 14-24 (soon up to 30), including their Ponderosa Pant that won an award in the Outside Summer Gear Guide. Get to know Raquel and get the inside scoop on Alpine Parrot in this Juicy Bits episode. You can also give them a follow on Instagram here.
Reclama
Photo: Reclama Instagram
Reclama, started by Cindy Yulissa Rodriguez, a Peruvian-American storyteller, author, and producer, was created for Latina women and WOC to reclaim their spiritual wellness through journaling and hiking. Their mission is to help women, no matter their lack of experience, to connect with nature on their own terms. They are reclaiming their space in nature to honor their spirituality and ancestral heritage so they can move forward as a collective. Reclama offers guided retreats, hikes, and journaling sessions on their website where you can sign up to join. Find them and follow them on Instagram here.
Latino Outdoors
Photo: Latino Outdoors Instagram
Latino Outdoors is one of the most well-known Latine-led organizations in the outdoors. Latino Outdoors aims to “inspire, connect, and engage Latino communities in the outdoors and embrace cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative, ensuring our history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented.” They hold meet-ups and events, and provide resources like job opportunities through their organization. They are doing some awesome things. Find and follow them on Instagram here.
Hike Clerb
Photo: Hike Clerb Instagram
Hike Clerb, founded in 2017 by LA based Evelynn Escobar, is an intersectional women’s hike club was created as an intersectional space for people of color in the outdoors. They are “equipping Black, Indigenous, women of color with the tools, education, resources and experiences they need to collectively heal in nature from Los Angeles and beyond.” Hike Clerb offers organized hikes and events to join in on, they have a space for donations and they provide resources to BIPOC in the outdoors. Check them out, and give them a follow on Instagram here.
Itacate
Photo: Itacate Instagram
Last but certainly not least, Itacate! Founded by Martha Yolanda Díaz, Itacate is a women owned and operated outdoor company creating Latin backpacking food like Charge Up Chilaquiles for adventures with great taste and strong values. Martha was inspired to found Itacate when she fell in love with backpacking while in college, but was intimidated by the lack of diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. Itacate was born out of a need to have comfort food she could relate to so that Latinos could see a part of themselves and their travels represented on the menu. Find them and follow them on Instagram here.
Thanks for reading, we hope you loved learning about these Hispanic and Latine-owned businesses and organizations to shop and support in the outdoors. If you did, be sure to check out our blogs, “Organizations Supporting LGBTQIA+ In The Outdoors,” and “9 Awesome Women-Owned Outdoor Brands” as well as our many other blogs on DEI in the outdoors.
