At the age of 15, Soledad Garay received invaluable training from her mother: how to use a sewing machine to make her first skirt. That garment marked the beginning of her sewing career, a craft that has brought her much joy and that she now shares with other women in Concepción through “Solcito Academia.” At the end of 2023, this venture distinguished her as one of the 250 winners of the Impulso Chileno program by Fundación Luksic.
The entrepreneur from the Biobío Region started her business very young, making garments and offering sewing repairs for people in her neighborhood. “I took some sewing and tailoring courses, so I decided to start my own business as a seamstress,” Soledad recalls. However, a few years after starting, her life took a significant turn. “In 2019, my young daughter had a serious accident. I immediately stopped my business because I had to take care of her,” the entrepreneur shares.
During that difficult time, to support her daughter, she decided to use her talent to make emotional support plush toys to help her accept what had happened. “My daughter had to get over 100 stitches, so my idea was to create a doll with scars, then one with one ear shorter than the other, and so I created other characters, all focused on helping her accept herself,” Soledad remembers.
Her dolls were not only a success with her daughter but also with many people who were interested in having similar plush toys and asked her to teach them how to make them. “Many people told me they had sewing machines but didn’t have anywhere to get trained and learn to make more things,” she explains.
Soledad contacted Janome, a sewing machine manufacturer. “They helped me set up a sewing workshop here in Concepción. Nowadays, everyone who buys a Janome sewing machine from any store can come to Solcito Academia to take a free basic course that I teach. Additionally, I offer paid intermediate and advanced courses so that people can create the garments and items they want,” Soledad shares.
Her courses have already reached over 500 people, and many of her students are women who want to start their own businesses. “Many are housewives who see this as an opportunity to bring income to their homes, to have financial security and independence,” Soledad says. “It gives me great satisfaction to pass on my knowledge just as my mother did with me. It’s a joy to see other women discover their talent, empower themselves, and believe in themselves, knowing that they too can achieve their goals.”
After winning Impulso Chileno, the entrepreneur says she will invest in new machines to be able to teach more students in each workshop. Also, as part of the program, she will receive training from the School of Business at the Catholic University and mentorship from experts.
April: Month of Entrepreneurship
There are now over 900 entrepreneurs who, like Soledad, have won the Impulso Chileno program, and more than 70% of them come from regions outside the Metropolitan area. “In April, we celebrate all the entrepreneurs like Soledad, who with great determination and dedication work to support their families and contribute to their communities. We are deeply committed to supporting them comprehensively by providing business skills that will help them increase their sales and expand their businesses,” highlighted Cristián Schalper, director of the Entrepreneurship area at Fundación Luksic
