San Antonio tailor stitches support for Talarico, Hinojosa

Melissa Rojas, a San Antonio small-business owner, has begun producing guayaberas embroidered with the names of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa. The shirts have become a visible presence at political rallies across Texas, including in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley.

Rojas is not a traditional political activist. She founded Chasing Camilla in 2017 to support her daughter, Camilla, who was two years old at the time. As a single mother and former resident of the Rio Grande Valley, Rojas started the business to make a living while doing work she enjoyed. Her mother provided the initial capital to launch the venture.

The shift toward political apparel began after Rojas attended a Talarico rally in the Valley. She said she was inspired by his message of hope and bipartisanship. “That was the first time I ever heard him speak, and I myself wanted to make a difference somehow,” Rojas said.

Rojas initially created crop-top guayaberas for women, describing the style as a modern twist on the traditional lightweight, embroidered Latin American shirts. She later expanded her inventory to include men’s guayaberas and eventually added the candidates’ names to the designs.

Both Hinojosa and Talarico have visited the store. Rojas clarified that she does not work directly for either campaign, but both candidates are aware of her efforts and support them. Supporters have been spotted wearing the shirts at events throughout the state.

“I think there’s a lot of hope,” Rojas said. “We always have to hope to move forward, and I honestly believe in the people that are running. I want my daughter to grow up in a different world, and I want her to be able to speak her mind and make her dreams come true.”

Rojas’s business path has faced recent changes. She lost her location in the Painted Tree boutique after the indoor marketplace filed for bankruptcy protection in April. Other business owners offered her space on North Main Avenue. However, Rojas has outgrown that location and is relocating again.

The business will open at 507 E. Houston St. on Nov. 1, near the Alamo. Rojas said she is eager for customers to support small businesses while participating in the election. “I just want people to go out and vote,” she said. “Just go make a difference. Use your voice, and if you support small businesses, come to mine.”

Customers can also order shirts online through the Chasing Camilla website. Rojas noted that she started with Serape Santa hats before moving into guayaberas, citing travel and a desire to create pieces that women like her would want to wear.