Mom Next Door / Cristina Lynch

real moms.

RÉSUMÉ

AGE 33 JOB Founder of Mi Golondrina, a line of Mexican artisan-embroidered clothing LIVES IN & HAILS FROM Dallas ALMA MATER New York University, where she graduated with a double major in theater and economics CHILDREN Daughter who turns 2 in November, and a 3-month-old son

FIND IN STORE AND

ONLINE Dallas, 214/377-8738; migolondrina.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDSEY SHELLEY

➽ ABOVE // Cristina Lynch has "so much fun" dressing her daughter.

mom next door / CRISTINA LYNCH

Founder, Mi Golondrina

INTERVIEW ALEXIS PATTERSON

IT’S GREAT TO HAVE ART ON WALLS AND SHELVES, but we especially love art we can wear. And the pieces in Cristina Lynch’s Mi Golondrina line are nothing short of artistic. Every top and dress is hand-embroidered by artisans in Mexico, where Lynch’s mother is from, and finished by expert seamstresses in Dallas—creating gorgeous items (loved by celebrities including Mindy Kaling) that give modern flair to traditional styles. It’s a kind of duality that Lynch has experienced in her own life, growing up here in North Texas while spending summers at her grandfather’s ranch in northern Mexico; majoring in the diverse subjects of theater and economics in college; and now simultaneously growing her company and her family. Her maternal culture is woven throughout everything she does—and that heritage is now being passed down to another generation.

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DFWCHILD: TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW MI GOLONDRINA CAME ABOUT. EVEN AS A TEENAGER, YOU WERE JOURNALING ABOUT STARTING A FASHION AND LIFESTYLE COMPANY.

CRISTINA LYNCH: Coming from a very entrepreneurial family, I think that’s probably just what I knew. For example, my mom and her sister started a clothing business. My aunt sells iron candelabras. Beautiful things, so I saw that.

I worked for Oscar de la Renta’s sales team after college, and I can’t remember what season it was, but there were these gorgeous embroideries. There were so many little things that came together for Mi Golondrina, but that was a big aha moment—seeing beautiful embroideries on couture dresses and remembering that I had seen gorgeous embroideries growing up, but they weren’t necessarily on luxe fabrics. I think that’s really what got my wheels turning.

C: WHERE DOES THE NAME MI GOLONDRINA COME FROM?

CL: At my grandfather’s ranch house in Mexico, I would see small swallows—golondrinas—in the eaves of the roof. I envision these golondrinas flying about, delivering the beauty of Mexico to women all over the world.

C: THAT’S LOVELY TO IMAGINE. HOW MANY ARTISANS DO YOU WORK WITH ON EMBROIDERY?

CL: Close to 600, which is wonderful. We call every week to check in and see pictures, just to know we’re on the same page. But going to Mexico and talking to our artisans is really moving, because they care so much and work really hard. It’s in their blood. The women who do it, their great-grandmothers did it.

C: HOW OFTEN ARE YOU IN MEXICO?

CL: Pre-pandemic, I would go every two months. When my daughter was four months old, we lived in Mexico for three weeks, which was a great experience. I think I’m going to do that again in the next year.

C: YOUR MOM’S HERITAGE WAS YOUR INSPIRATION—YOU MUST HAVE A VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.

CL: Yes, she’s taking my daughter to ballet right now! I have three brothers, so my mom is also kind of like—not a sister, but we’re really close. She’s warm and creative, one of those people that lights up the room. She comes up with the best ideas for Mi Golondrina and is constantly thinking about how to make things better. It’s nice to have somebody who keeps me on my toes.

C: HOW DOES YOUR OWN CHILDHOOD INFLUENCE HOW YOU PARENT?

CL: I get emotional thinking about it, because it’s the biggest gift my parents have given me. They are extremely loving and have supported me so much. I know many children don’t have that. Just showing love is really important to me, and there being no doubt in my child’s mind that I’m proud of them all the time, no matter what’s going on. Family time is huge—having dinners together at home, all being around the table.

We had a beautiful home growing up. My mom did such a good job putting art everywhere, and I don’t think she ever thought too much what was kid-friendly and what was not. She just created a beautiful space and made sure we had fun in it. I hope to do the same. I also think about these vacations we went on. Even when we financially couldn’t do as much, we would drive to national parks. I think it’s really important to learn about new places, new cultures, and do it together.

C: HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO SHARE YOUR HERITAGE WITH YOUR OWN CHILDREN?

CL: That means so much to me. It’s how I was raised, and [Mexican culture] is such a beautiful part of my life. I love how family forward the culture is. I speak to my children in Spanish. I want them to go to Mexico with me and play and meet the artisans we work with, now and through the years.

C: WHAT’S YOUR FORMULA FOR BALANCING HOME AND WORK?

CL: When I started my company, one person said, “You’re going to work so much. Do you not care about family?” I was like, “Wow, you really don’t know me at all—the reason I started Mi Golondrina was so I could have a business and a family.” I’ve always looked forward to having two children, and hopefully more, honestly. I worked really hard early on knowing that, hopefully, I could have a more flexible schedule one day. What’s so fun is that my kids come with me to the showroom. Mom guilt is real, though. [There are times] when you’re doing something else and want to be with your kids. But knowing that I’m going to continue working, I just spend as much time with them as I can. We take them everywhere and wouldn’t want it any other way.

➽ ABOVE // Lynch, whose son was born over the summer, says her line's flowing styles were perfect as maternity wear.