The mother / daughter duo of Koco & Viking is a powerhouse of grace, love, and creativity! Meet them today and enter to win a $50 shop credit!
meet koco and viking
Koco & Viking, a mother and daughter design team, is the perfect combination of playful and fierce! The company is comprised of two strong women who value creativity and quality craftsmanship. Lou Carranza – mother, seamstress, creative role model; Jasmine Dexter – daughter, artisan, entrepreneur.
Lou grew up in a world of texture, color and beauty. She began her foray into sewing early on in life as she assisted her aunt who was a dressmaker to the stars. It wasn’t long before she was tasked with making event gowns for her mother and bridesmaid dresses for her friends. Her natural talent flourished after her daughter was born. She made ice skating and dance costumes for her daughter’s competitions, and it wasn’t long before her designs were in high demand. Other mothers wanted their daughters dressed in beautifully handcrafted costumes, too! Lou inevitably opened her own shop and went on to create competition ballroom dresses and costumes for renowned dance companies and international theater companies.
Jasmine kept the family tradition alive as she assisted her mom throughout her childhood. She adored the local craft shows her mother sold her creations at and shined not only as a fellow crafter, but also as a phenomenal salesperson! She began to incorporate her own designs at these shows and soon had others selling her goods for her. Jasmine was business savvy which would later come in handy with the launch of Koco & Viking. Before that milestone, though, she tested the waters by running an ebay business at age 12! She was already making items for her friends at school, so she figured that the rest of the world would love her creations as well!
You always hear that mother/daughter relationships are “difficult” and “strained”, yet Lou and Jasmine seemed to prove that theory wrong. They enjoyed spending time together, especially while collaborating on creative projects. Eventually, they were able to bring their two unique styles and skill sets into a single creation that would garner a great response.
Koco & Viking was born in 2007 (The name was a nod to their beloved dogs, a loyal jack russell terrier and a sweet beagle! Both were loyal, spirited and had a love that was unconditional. Lou and Jasmine hope to impart that spirit in all that they create and do.). Their “hobby” grew into a part-time business and before they knew it they had every weekend booked solid as the demand for their products grew. Large events and boutiques were approaching them at record breaking speed and they found their items being sold in a number of retail locations.
Flash forward to 2014 and Koco & Viking has relocated from Los Angeles to beautiful San Luis Obispo County. Lou and Jasmine made the move to care for their ailing (grand)parents and they’ve found great joy in the beauty of California’s central coast. Their new home offers them coast and country, surfers and cowboys, vineyards and hiking. They’ve found a new artistic community to tap into while still remaining very active in Southern California’s artist events scene.
Jasmine founded the Maker Menagerie, a modern craft show featuring local artisans. When she moved to SLO she realized there was a need for this type of event. It would be great for the maker community and for SLO at large. She saw how events like these reinvigorated communities and inspired others to create similar events. Jasmine is quickly becoming a major proponent of the support of local artists.
Regardless of where Koco & Viking’s mailing address resides, it will always have a home online. Their creations continue to evolve as new inspirations strike. This company will never be stagnant! The support of their loyal customers is overwhelming and they pray they can continue to make things that bring happiness to everyone!
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$50 Shop Credit to Koko & Viking
