T Z O M A

About The Maker






Hi, I'm Citlalli. (Pronounced: Sit-lah-lee, just how it's written).  It means "Star" in Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs.  I'm the owner + designer + maker behind Tzoma.  I'm obsessed with creating eco-friendly + chic  handbags for conscious people who want to add sustainability to their wardrobe.


As daughter to an art director, I grew up drawing and creating with my hands.  My mom taught me the basics of hand-sewing, and my aunt, Gloria, taught me a bit of embroidery at an early age.  -- I actually grew up watching my aunt Gloria sew her own clothes, yet I never asked her to teach me how to use a sewing machine.--  In fact, the first time I sat behind a sewing machine was in 2010, when I decided to sign up for my first (and last) sewing class at a local sewing studio. 

I asked my teacher about fabrics and sewing machines as I (nervously) sewed a basic tote --with handles made from ribbon in the most perfect shade of chartreuse you ever did see.  I left that class with a pretty sweet tote that served as a reminder of how much I enjoyed sewing.  I felt eager to learn more about the new skill I had just dabbled in.


I ordered my first sewing machine, a Janome DC2010, shortly after the class and taught myself how to sew with the help of books, sewing blogs, youtube, and mainly trial and error.  Little did I know then that this class would change the rest of my life.

I opened my handcrafted handbag business in 2011 and slowly incorporated my crunchy lifestyle into the brand.  I grew out of my business name, changed it, and rebranded in 2016.  Tzoma is built on my passion for sewing + working with my hands and a commitment to change the fashion industry.


One of the best pieces of praise I've gotten from a customer is: "This purse is exactly what I was looking for and I'm really impressed by the quality. I searched for a long time for a stylish purse that wasn't made of leather or toxic plastic synthetic leather and that was also water resistant. It's the perfect size and looks good with everything without being boring. Also, the wax really does smell lovely! Thank you so much! "  -Amber-

Providing conscious people with non-frumpy handbags that will align with her values, like that, makes me so proud and drives everything I do.


If you're looking for a stylish handbag that is also friendly to the environment and is easy on the eye, then I'd love to create one just for you!  

Are you all about sustainable living and want to connect?  Please, send me an email, or connect with me via Instagram @Tzoma_.  I'd love to connect with you, too! 


When I'm not sewing, dreaming up new designs, running the day to day of my business, or working the graveyard shift as an operations manager for one of the biggest shipping companies in the world, I can be found:


If you're dying to know more, here are a few things most people don't know about me:


Want to learn more about...

If you got all the way down here, thanks for reading along! 


Enjoy perusing around my website and have a sweet day!
Your bag is empty
Start shopping