Two years ago, I was on a Billboard shoot in Little Havana and wandered into the cutest little fabric shop next door — Florida Leather Supply. The owner let me photograph the artist in front of all his gorgeous rolls of fabric, and his shop even made it into the article.

Fast-forward two years… I’m at an AI workshop, minding my business, and the man next to me says he owns a fabric store in Little Havana. I tilt my head, squint my eyes and ask, “Which one?” When he said Florida Leather Supply, I about fell out of my chair. It was HIM. I sent him the photo the minute I got home like the responsible adult I pretend to be.

Later that night, my friend mentions her dad was also at the same workshop, and guess what? Her dad is ALSO the owner — Mauricio Castillo-Suazo. Apparently, Miami is the smallest city on Earth.

I asked Ariel if I could photograph her family in the shop, and she said yes. And here we are. Every time I look at these photos, my heart does a little happy dance.

Pictured | Mauricio Castillo-Suazo, Maia Suazo-Maler & Ariel Suazo-Maler

Florida Leather Supply — opened in 1962, passed from grandfather to father in 1980.

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