Aidee & Mónica San Miguel, Founders of VOLVERde
One of the most relatable “you know you’re Latinx when…” moments centers around sustainability. But nuestra comunidad has never referred to reusing tubs and cookie tins as leftover containers as such. This unconscious commitment to eco-friendly living is a cornerstone of growing up Latinx. It’s also an experience that inspired sisters Aidee and Mónica San Miguel to create VOLVERde, an online marketplace that offers low-waste everyday essentials sourced from responsible, diverse brands.
“VOLVERde blossomed out of our profound childhood experiences and our desire to see more sustainable products made for us, by us — Black, brown, indigenous, women, and people of color,” say the co-founders, who are proudly Mexican and Chicagoan. “We saw the need for a space that honors, celebrates, and reinvents our cultural traditions of sustainability with modern ease, so VOLVERde was born.”
I’m so excited for you to meet these mujeres de magia. They are doing the work and inspiring so many others in the process. Keep scrolling to learn more about their venture’s origins, how they deal with imposter syndrome, and more.
Grace Gavilanes: Latinx people and sustainability is the ultimate love story. How has your relationship with eco-living evolved over the years?
Aidee & Mónica: We are two daughters of immigrants who migrated to the U.S. from Mexico in search of a better life. From reusing butter containers to store salsas, to reusing brown paper bags as book covers, we were living a low-waste lifestyle way before it was trendy. We grew up repurposing old gym t-shirts into cloth napkins and cleaning rags. Thrifting was not just a fashion statement, but a way of life. Sharing clothes and toys with our primos was not an option, but a requirement. Natural remedies were our go-to — from using aloe vera on cuts to using herbs picked from our garden to cure upset stomachs and colds. Food waste was deeply frowned upon and recalentados were celebrated.
Growing up, nobody ever used words such as, “zero waste,” “sustainability,” or “eco-friendly.” These terms weren’t needed, because we were just being resilient and living resourcefully. Much of what we did to live a low-waste lifestyle stemmed from necessity as a family of seven, but it also comes as a natural extension of our family’s history and our cultural views towards nature and the planet.
Our maternal abuelitos come from a small, rural town in Michoacan, Mexico. Their lives, along with our mom’s fate, were inextricably tied to nature. Without rainfall, there was no harvest and no food or money. In their town there was no municipal waste collection, so as a family they were responsible for disposing of any trash (and the cost associated with this). This made them very aware of their environmental impact. Our abuelos viewed their home, the land, and nature’s bounty as gifts that needed to be protected and preserved for future generations.
VOLVERde blossomed out of our profound childhood experiences and our desire to see more sustainable products made for us, by us — Black, brown, indigenous, women, and people of color. We saw the need for a space that honors, celebrates, and reinvents our cultural traditions of sustainability with modern ease, so VOLVERde was born.
Our hope is that modern day sustainable living be an exercise of true connection (to the planeta, our community and culture), and not something done out of guilt or gloom-and-doom.
GG: What was the defining moment that sparked the idea for VOLVERde? Did you always dream of starting your own business?
A&M: Starting VOLVERde feels like a dream come true. Both of us were professionals working corporate jobs that weren’t very fulfilling, and we would often joke about quitting our jobs to start a business together. It felt so wild and out of reach when we first started toying with the idea.
Fast forward a few years later — we were both sisters and mothers living on the south side of Chicago, where accessibility to low-waste products was a challenge. We were driving an hour to reach the nearest eco-friendly store, and it was a pain. And once there, we didn’t see products that truly addressed all of our needs as Latinas. We found ourselves ordering from small, indie businesses that we loved from all over the country to fill in the gaps.
On one of those long trips, Mónica texted Aidee and said, “Let’s start a sustainable e-commerce.” Aidee immediately texted back, “Yes” with no hesitation. And the rest is history! We spent the next year researching, refining the idea, surveying potential customers, and building out the website before launching.
We wanted to create something that truly resonated with our comunidad, so we took our time. We have both always cared deeply about social justice and making a difference in our community. We shared this dream of making sustainable living more accessible while honoring our cultural roots. So while we never imagined it would end up manifesting in an e-commerce business, building VOLVERde has become a dream come true.
““Being Latinas in the U.S. has given us a more global perspective, grounded us in our rich cultural heritage, and given us a high tolerance for nuance.””
GG: What would you say is the most rewarding part of your work?
A&M: The best part of what we do is getting unsolicited messages from our community about loving the products we connect them with and being excited to have found us. The response has been incredible. We have gotten orders from all corners of the country, validating that people are searching for exactly what we offer.
The other highlight for us is working with our artisan partners in Mexico. We deeply respect how they’re true masters of their craft. They know the ins and outs, and none of it was learned from a textbook. It’s all wisdom they’ve learned from their ancestors. We feel so fortunate to play a small part in preserving these artisanal traditions and bringing them to our customers in the U.S.
Getting to know the artisans and the work that goes into making one item also makes us appreciate all the artisanal products we carry (and own in our home) on a much deeper level. These aren’t just things anymore — they’re stories, legacies, and a rejection of the exploitation resulting from mass production.
GG: What accomplishment are you most proud of, both in your personal and professional life?
Aidee: One of my proudest accomplishments is receiving my electrical engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Navigating a male-dominated field was challenging, especially when I found myself often being the only woman and Latina in my classes. I turned that challenge into an opportunity to create a supportive community of diverse engineers. (Shoutout to my amazing crew — we're still tight!)
In my professional life, work taught me a valuable lesson — the power of speaking up. As the lone woman and Latina in most of my jobs, I had to quickly learn to advocate for myself. It wasn't easy given my introverted nature, and growing up I was taught to be the quiet dutiful daughter. Speaking up for myself was uncomfortable, but every time I stood up for what was right, I felt a surge of pride. I'm passionate about encouraging others to speak up in every aspect of their lives. It's empowering!
Now, on a personal note, I'm a mom to Ximena, my 12-month-old daughter. Every day with her is a new adventure. I’m proud of myself and my journey into motherhood. I also want to thank my hermanas who have been important role models for me. I'd be lost without them.
Mónica: Like Aidee, I’m so proud of everything I’ve achieved academically and professionally. I migrated to the U.S. with my parents when I was five and didn’t know English. I am the eldest of the five hermanas and often felt the weight of the world as I helped my family navigate a new country, culture, and language. I am so proud of myself for doing so much, when I started with so little. Sure, I have the scars to show for it, but I’m also proud of myself for getting on the healing journey.
I am proud of the courage, work ethic, and ambition I showed at a young age. I moved from Illinois to California when I was 19 years old, against my parents wishes, to transfer to a university that was a better fit for me. It was risky, but it was so worth it. Those were some of the best years of my young adult life, and I graduated with honors from a top university. I went on to attend Princeton University on a full scholarship, travel the world, and work in the financial technology industry. I’m proud of myself for one simple thing: setting the bar high and achieving my goals.
I’ve built such a happy and fulfilling life, and that’s not easy given where I started. I’m proud of being an emotionally available, optimistic, and loving mamá and partner. I’m proud of giving what I never received.
GG: What advice would you give someone who’s interested in approaching life more sustainably, but intimidated by the idea of it?
A&M: It can be overwhelming, but we like to say: Poco a poquito se convierte a mucho. Start small and take gradual steps. Drastic changes overnight can be a negative experience, and not sustainable long-term. The real flex is in making sustainable choices part of your everyday routine.
The first thing we like to suggest is to make sure you use what you have at home first. Don’t go dumping out all your single-use plastic. Use it until it’s truly no longer useful — like our abuelitas did. Once you run out, then it’s a good time to find a more sustainable alternative. Consider the following: Can you find it easily at a local thrift store? Can you borrow it from your prima? If you do need something new, we recommend you find a local, small business to support with your purchasing power. Small businesses contribute to local economies and have a lower environmental footprint.
One easy and impactful swap is transitioning from single-use paper napkins (which lead to deforestation and end up in landfills!) to cloth napkins. We love the colors, absorbency, sizing and durability of these cloth napkins. When we started on this journey, we thought we’d just make some ourselves but we just never actually got to. We bought some and felt it was so worth it because it gave us our time back, while supporting small businesses. The beauty is that you can simply toss them in the washer with your towels, making it a hassle-free switch. We also have beautiful handcrafted artisanally-made napkins for fancier moments. These are one-of-a-kind woven pieces that preserve generations-old artistry and tell the story of how textiles were meant to be made, before mass production. And the bonus? It saves you money in the long run. So, take it slow, give yourself grace, and celebrate the small changes.
GG: Imposter syndrome is a very real thing in our community. Have you experienced it? If so, how do you reconnect with yourself?
A&M: Absolutely, imposter syndrome is something we've faced head-on. Aidee navigates the world of engineering and Monica in the financial tech realm, both challenging terrains for Latina women. The pressure of being surrounded by a predominantly white male space can affect your confidence.
In those moments of doubt, our sisterhood became a lifeline. We are five sisters and all of us deal with this in our professional lives. We'd vent, share experiences, and most importantly, build each other up. It's a support system steeped in cafecito-fueled wisdom and resilience.
We both also had a broader network — a safety net of allies and mentors who understood the challenges we faced. We believe it’s important to actively build your community in your respective field. It truly does take a village to grow your career, business, children, etc.
This is something we continue to do with VOLVERde. We’re cultivating strong relationships with other Latina entrepreneurs. It's incredible to meet these mujeres who are not just breaking glass ceilings but shattering them. We may not have generational wealth, but we have our community and each other.
GG: What does being Latina mean to you?
A&M: We love being part of a multi-nation, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual diaspora. Being Latinas in the U.S. has given us a more global perspective, grounded us in our rich cultural heritage, and given us a high tolerance for nuance. It’s also given us the ability to experience both the loving embrace and complexities of being part of such a diverse community. In spite of our differences, we find common ground in music, food, family, and humor.
We love the depth of flavors in the humblest of our foods. We love the traditions that bring our families and friends together. We love the way sounds of banda, cumbia, salsa, and corridos captivate our bodies and hearts. We love how the cultura is evolving to be more inclusive and progressive.
