Latina Leader Spotlight: Naomi Castillo
Q: Introduce yourself! What is your name, where did you grow up, where do you live now and what is your ethnic background?
A: Hola! My name is Naomi Castillo, I was born and raised in LA and I’m currently back in my hometown after a few years in NYC. I’m the proud daughter of Central American immigrants (Salvadorian mother and Guatemalan father, respectively).
Q: Tell us about your creation:
A: Oeste is my baby and a true labor of love! Oeste is a studio that creates soulful goods for your home. We make hand-poured aromatic candles in small batches using the most sustainable and eco-friendly materials available. More than just great candles, Oeste is a space that celebrates my Latinx roots, and the notion of home, through the lens of design. In addition to our own line of candles, we offer a curated selection of found artisanal goods from designers and makers across the Latin American diaspora. Oeste’s goal is to offer beautiful, quality home goods you’ll love, while also celebrating our rich cultural histories, and shining a spotlight on Latinx makers and creatives along the way.
Q: What motivates you to create?
A: The initial inspiration for Oeste came about when I was living in New York. I was feeling homesick, not just for my family and friends, but for the foods, the traditions, and the sensory experiences that make home truly home. I found myself missing the sights, sounds, and of course the scents of my native Los Angeles. I’ve always found scent to be so special in its ability to evoke memories and places and thought, if I can capture scent, I can bring a piece of home and the people and places I love any where I am. For instance, in the dead of winter in NY, I most missed California sunshine and being outdoors. One of my favorite recollections is being in my mom’s backyard helping her with her garden and the scent of flowers that would surround us those mornings- that was the inspiration for Oeste’s Madre candle.
Q: Who is your Latina inspiration?
A: Oh my, it would be difficult to choose just one! My mom and my tias are honestly my biggest of inspirations. To think of how they left everything behind and made such incredible new lives for themselves and their families in a completely new place where they didn’t speak the language and had very little resources moves me beyond belief and inspires me any time I feel overwhelmed by challenges.
A Latina in the creative world that I admire is Mexican designer, Carla Fernández. I not only love her clothes, which are stunning, but I so admire her dedication to sustainable production processes, both environmentally friendly manufacturing practices as well as paying fair wages to her team, artisan partners, and vendors, most of whom are female and indigenous.
Q: What do you want other Latina creators to know?
A: I’d like other Latina creators to know that their voices not only matter, but are so needed! We need more Latina faces in the spotlight and for their talents to be celebrated, especially within creative fields. Growing up I loved art and design, but I rarely, if ever, saw faces that looked like mine in design publications. Representation is so important!
Q: Any upcoming big announcements we should stay tuned for?
A: Oeste is working on some really exciting collaborative projects that will be released later this year! Best of all is that they are with fellow Latina-owned brands. Thrilled to work with fellow creatives whose brands I love, but it feels even sweeter that a group of Latina entrepreneurs are doing the damn thing and supporting each other along the way! :)
Q: How can we keep up/support you?
You can check out our goods by visiting our website: www.oeste.co.
And follow along on instagram, we’re @oeste.studio.
