I grew up in Union City, New Jersey, which sometimes gets referred to as “Little Havana on the Hudson.” It’s home to one of the biggest Cuban communities outside of Miami, thanks to waves of Cuban immigrants who settled there over the decades. Walking around, you see it in restaurants like Dos Amigos (where the only thing on the menu is a pan con bistec), the way the Cuban flag flies right below the U.S. one around town, and in the Celia Cruz Plaza on 32nd street. So it’s no wonder that anytime I go home, I have to grab a Cuban sandwich, Cuban links have always been part of my necklace stack, and even my Colombian dad will casually drop an “asere” around his coworkers.
That magnetism is what makes Cuban culture so distinct. With about 1.5 million Cuban Americans across the U.S., their culture quietly (or not so quietly) influences what we see, wear, and experience every day. If you’re looking to support Cuban fashion, try mojo-inspired sauces, or discover more Cuban American-owned businesses worth backing, here are some you should definitely check out.
Clandestina Clandestina Denim Dress, $, available at Clandestina
Lights Lacquer Out of Office Nail Polish Trio by Lights Lacquer, $, available at Lights Lacquer
XIO by Ylette XIO by Ylette’s Cubana Necklace, $, available at XIO by Ylette
Albisa Candles Cafetera Candle by Albisa Candles, $, available at Albisa Candles
Cubavera Cubavera’s Embroidered Guayabera Shirt, $, available at CUBAVERA
Alamar Cosmetics Alamar Cosmetics’ Colorete Blush Trio, $, available at Alamar Cosmetics
Tres Linda Cubanas Tres Linda Cubanas Assorted Heritage Collection, $, available at Tres Linda Cubanas
Barbaro Mojo Barbaro Mojo Cuban Hot Sauce Gift Pack, $, available at Barbaro Mojo
Café Aroma Café Aroma Espresso Can, $, available at Café Aroma
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