When deciding what factors were important to me in creating a brand, the number one thing on my list was to be inclusive of all sizes and offer a size range of up to 5XL. This came as a result of learning the difficulties and everyday struggles of being overweight after I became overweight myself.
See, I wasn't always a thick boy! Matter of fact, growing up as a kid, they would call me "costal de huesos," which translates to "sack of bones." They would call me this because I was so skinny you could see my bones piercing through my skin. My brother, on the other hand, would constantly get made fun of for his weight since he was obese. He struggled with obesity for most of his life. When people would see us together, they would say we looked like Patrick and SpongeBob or Nacho Libre and Esqueleto.
I always felt bad for my brother, but I never really felt like I understood what he was going through. So, I would always try to inspire, influence, and motivate my brother to workout with me and eat clean. However, looking back without intentionally meaning to, I think I did more harm than help. Every time he would eat too fast or too much I would make fun of him. Instead of explaining why that's bad. Every time he would try to work out with me, I would give him so much shit because I would think he was faking, giving me minimal effort just to get out of exercising. When in reality, he was trying as hard as he could. Looking back, I can only imagine the amount of mental abuse he must have felt, and perhaps he may have even questioned his existence if everything he did was wrong to us.
Years go by, and the tables have turned. My brother dedicated himself to a weight loss journey and has lost over 200 pounds! Meanwhile, I went on to become the heaviest I've ever been in my life. So now I start to see life from a different perspective. This has allowed me to understand how my brother must have felt his entire life. I realize now that there is so much more underneath the surface, and being overweight could be a result of many different things like poor mental health, Abuse, or Trauma. You may have had to fight your demons in the past or even presently, but the last thing I want you to worry about is "if they got your size." I can assure you that here at Mercado Goods, if you're big, little or beautiful I'll always have your size ;)
P.S. - I encourage you to be the healthiest you, you can be! But love yourself baby cause time is ticking. For my big playas and big queens out there stay sexy :)🫶