Griselda Blanco launched a clothing import business as a front for her drug smuggling operations. Her son, Michael Blanco, later entered the fashion industry, too, but he left the drug business out of the equation. In 2015, Michael launched his clothing brand, Pure Blanco. The son of the famous drug lord founded the clothing line to shed the stereotypes placed on him. He shared, “We are turning a negative into a positive. I want people to understand that not all people who are related to cartel members should be judged for their families,” he continued, “Everybody deserves a second chance and this is my second chance to become a regular person.”
And if you’re wondering what the company sells, the brand’s website has an array of men’s and women’s garments, along with any accessories you might need. Pillows, t-shirts, mugs — you name it, they have it. All of the merchandise is tied to his mother and the lifestyle he grew up with. Some of the t-shirts say, “Boss like Griselda” or feature drug-affiliated words like “Narco.”
While Michael has caught some flack for creating a business surrounding his mother’s drug trafficking and the murders ultimately tied to that, he doesn’t feel he is doing anything wrong. During an appearance on “Cartel Crew,” he shared, “I’m not hurting anybody with my products. The foundation [of] Pure Blanco has been all legit money. So, am I not living the American dream by doing this?”
