Twin sisters Marlene and Maira Delgadillo vividly remember their ninth birthday celebration — the matching cheetah print outfits they wore, the dance floor they set up in the living room, their two pink cakes and a matching pink piñata they showed their friends how to break. 

What was so special about this celebration you may ask? It was the one and only birthday party they had growing up. 

“Our mom’s side of the family was Jehovah’s Witnesses, and our dad’s side of the family was Catholic,” Maira Delgadillo said. 

“That meant we didn’t celebrate our birthdays, holidays, anything,” Marlene Delgadillo added. 

Although birthdays were not a thing in their Alief household – and perhaps because of this very point – the sisters gravitated toward celebrations. As they grew older, they became their extended family’s unofficial party planners and, as of 2020, the owners of their own party decor company called Cultura Confetti.

Marlene and Maira Delgadillo, 28, set out to “create party products en español,” aiming to fill a void that became apparent as they grew up juggling two identities; the one based on their Mexican heritage and their American life. 

“For us it is mainly about growing up and not seeing any of this available,” Marlene said. “I feel like now it’s just starting. You have some t-shirts en español.”

“Yeah, growing up, you would never see a shirt that would have like pan dulce on it,” Maira said. “It did kind of feel like we are super Mexican and you would try to hide it.”

Today, they design and sell sparkly, rhinestone filled, colorful tiaras and sashes for every occasion, from birthday themes such as “Cumpleañera” and “Es Mi Cumpleaños,” to bridal themes with “La Novia,” or holidays like “Feliz Navidad,” “Feliz Año,” and more, all aiming to appeal to the many Houstonians who share similar cultural background and speak Spanglish. 

Puro pinche hustle 

The twin sisters – who often finish each other’s sentences or start the same thought together – decided to put their creativity to use during the pandemic and began making their own headbands. 

The first creation as Cultura Confetti was a “Puro Pinche Party” headband using a Cricut machine they bought to start trying out products. They tested a few items and placed some for sale on Etsy, the online store that allows creators to set up a virtual shop and sell directly to customers.  

“We also did some Valentine’s stuff like a ‘Yo Perreo Sola’ (headband) and ‘Amigas Por Vida,’” Marlene said. “And we got like a couple of orders, mainly from friends.”

They searched online for the products they had in mind to make and saw nobody was making them. So, the limited amount of headbands they could create on their own sold quickly, they said. 

Despite people being mostly stuck at home those days, they got the sense that many wanted to make their virtual celebrations feel extra special. A headband was not only visually appealing, but a little something special they could add to an on-screen celebration. 

They had fun creating these products, but their eye was set on having their items in store shelves one day. They knew their DYI – do it yourself – method would not suffice. 

“It didn’t feel like they would be good enough for stores if they were handmade with the Cricuit,” Marlene said. 

“And, like, glued on with hot glue,” Maira added. “They needed to be more like a finished product.” 

They took a break from making these items at home and searched manufacturing companies that could make their products look more professional. They eventually found a manufacturer that could produce small batches of items, and today, they supply local stores like Miradela on Navigation, Ozzirys Boutique at the Ironworks, and Sew Bonita in Corpus Christi. 

Maira and Marlene still package all of their products at home. It gives them an opportunity to check for quality. It also allows them to continue using custom-printed themed packaging that includes a short message directly from them to their customer. 

“We hope our band can help our community feel valued, inspired and connected,” their message reads. “Authentically adding cultura to your celebrations.”

Celebrating cultura

Like many young Latinas and Latinos growing up in the United States, the two sisters grew up between two worlds and two cultures. Their full identity was something that didn’t always fit in outside their household, often feeling the need to act “less Mexican,” they said.

The products they create represent a celebration of what it means to be fully themselves, and their brand is an invitation for others to unapologetically celebrate their full selves. 

“Who are you creating products for?” reads a social media post for their brand. “The younger generation? Yes, of course! But also… the generation that didn’t have anything. Like our mom. This is for you too.” 

Cultura Confetti’s social media is filled with photos sent by their customers celebrating their special day wearing their products. The posts show women of all ages, clad with their “Cumpleañera,” “Es Mi Cumple,” or “La Novia” sashes and headbands.

Every photo is special and makes them feel closer to their community, the twins said. But seeing the photos of older generations wearing their products feels even more rewarding.

“It’s usually the daughters buying them for their moms,” Marlene said. “I think that it makes them feel extra special, like healing their inner child, in a way, because maybe they didn’t grow up having that.”  

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