We were lucky to catch up with Dena DePompa recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dena, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Hi, My name is Dena DePompa. I’m a southern California, born and raised west coast girl. I grew up loving the outdoors, sports, and I was surrounded by very supportive and loving parents. I’ve always been called “lucky”…
In my junior year of high school, I accepted a full collegiate softball scholarship to on of my top choices, the University of Hawaii. Knowing that I was passionate about sport, and performance nutrition, I jumped into a Kinesiology degree program.
I ended up attending 3 different colleges. I was gifted another scholarship to the University of Washington, and eventually I graduated with a Bachelors Degree from Cal State Northridge.
Degree in hand, I went out to search for possible careers.
This was where I hit a moment of (*oh shit*) “I’m being put into a 9-5, desk sitting, corporate job that I do not resonate with, at all. This never was my dream. How did I get here?
You see, while I was young and impressionable, I had listened to a lot of opinions of loved ones, who wanted the best for me, and maybe it was good for me at the time. However, I was in the wrong place. I knew it deep down. So, I ran (literally…keep reading).
So many thoughts went through my mind, “Who was I going to disappoint,” “Who would be upset at my decisions” and “What the hell am I going to do”…but mainly it was this terrible feeling of overwhelm of dread in my gut.
So, this is what I did…I cancelled an interview to become the Anaheim Police Department’s Wellness Coordinator, and I jumped on a plane to Acapulco (2008).
No phones, no electronics, no family, no friends, just 5,000 hours of hot yoga in the jungle surrounded by 300 strangers/ trainees from all over the globe.
This gifted opportunity was by far the most important “yes” I had made thus far in life.
Something happens to a person when they are removed from all of their circles, friends, family, internet, and phones.
Space is created.
Space to recenter, space to be your true authentic self, space to listen to your soul, space to breath freely, space to sit in the quiet and observe your inner thoughts.
I found out who I was, and gifted myself the grace and permission to be that person.
After this incredible transformation of mind, body, spirit and my perceptions, I headed back home to Los Angeles.
I leaped into a successful fashion career, that happened effortlessly. I believe in the law of attraction, and when you are following your souls voice, the universe answers.
I became one of Los Angeles’ highest paid, and most sought after Fit models for 12+ years, working full time, M-F 9-10 hour days. It was exciting and exhausting at the same time.
It was also an education.
Being a full time fit model, you are in the design meetings, working with the pattern makers and fit technicians 1 on 1, listening to conversations about how to make garments, starting with the fabric, sourcing, quality control, time frames, trends, seasonal planning, and perfecting the technical side of creating a well fitting garment. You also learn running a fashion brand from the insiders view, advertisement, production locally and over seas, merchandising, private labels, and so on. I felt like I had been gifted another degree, this time it was a hands on degree in fashion.
I also saw the back end dramas, hard ships, and obstacles that owning a large fashion brand comes with. Something you can’t learn in a classroom.
I was in deep, years working with some of these companies, they relied on me, and I provided a very niche service. T
hey created expensive dress forms of my body, but even so, leaving on vacations or taking days off became very seldom, as I was needed in Los Angeles everyday.
I was making great money, and living out my potential as a professional Fit model. However, I did not feel in alignment with my purpose. Working with some very wealthy fast fashion companies, I became aware of the devastating toll these garments were having on the planet, and I was a part of it. The air pollution, waste pollution, water contamination, unfair wages, poor working conditions, and poverty it was creating was gut wrenching to me.
This weighed on me, and started to break my soul little by little.
At this time, I had met a beautiful person to share my life with. We both wanted to have kids, and although pregnancy does not work well when your measurements are your pay check… it was time.
11 weeks into our first pregnancy, I left my fit modeling career.
Enter, WesterlyUSA.
It all started with handmade leather bags, dreamcatchers, and thrifting western style jackets to resale on Etsy in 2011.
I did this very casually and in 2019, I began to realize my talents, and knowledge could be used for something greater.
With my expertise in quality garments, I decided to create a shop based on ethical practices, recycling fashion and hand making sustainable, customized garments.
I also start collecting vintage/and second hand jackets to customize for my customers.
The “Custom Bespoke Jacket Bar” was born. It gives garments that may be sent to landfill, another chance to be something cherished for years, maybe generations.
Everything I design, and source, is either second hand, reused, recycled, organic, sustainable, or raw fabrics to ensure biodegradability. I believe in using by-product waste to create sustainable fashion. I am an advocate for animal rights, and conservancy and will never buy or sell new fur and leather that is not a by product of ethical and sustainable practices.
With WesterlyUSA, I am able to fulfill my purpose to help the fashion industry make a change. It’s cool to care, know, and be informed when you buy a product. How was it sourced, who made it and how are they treated, where was it made, what chemicals were used, and does your purchase hurt or help the fashion pollution crisis…
WesterlyUSA stands for conscious living, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m Dena, owner, designer, creator, and my partner is Chris Chandler. Chris is a big part of Westerly, he is the brains behind much of the back end, technical, photography, imagery, and he brings the yang energy to balance me out. 🙂
Professionally, I want to make an impact in the Western Fashion World with Westerly’s core values… continuing to be an advocate for quality over quantity, re-cycling, and ending fast fashion trends.
I want WesterlyUSA to be a western household known brand, and be known for the integrity of a deep connection to planet earth, and sustainable practices.
WesterlyUSA is still in its beginning stages, but we are making a splash in the Western Community. Making garments for Country Music Artists (like Lainey Wilson) and celebrities, and we are working on a fine Jewelry Line that Dena designed, based on Vintage Western Jewelry from the 1940’s, launching summer ’24.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One of the practices that helped me get out of a “slump” was silencing my competitors on instagram/ social media. I compared myself too often in the beginning. This kept me from finding my own voice and creativity. Its so easy these days to go on social media and feel like you are not enough or not doing enough. Knowing that you will be successful due to your uniqueness, is extremely important.
I am in the middle of a re-branding, website transformation, and I couldn’t be happier that I chose to invest in the business and myself by hiring an amazing person to spear head this with me. I learned so much about WHO WesterlyUSA is by going through this in depth re-brand with a professional, it was extremely insightful and helpful in creating my brand presence.
Trusting yourself.
I am constantly learning that if I make something that I love, my fans/customers will love it too. When I take risks that I think are great, they end up being best sellers. Be unique, be you, show the world why you are special and different.
you can’t lose.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
It is hard to narrow it down to one book. But the one book I believe every female creator/ entrepenuer can find value in, is “Women Who Run with the Wolves’ by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Being a “wild woman” and allowing yourself to follow your instincts, live with passionate creativity, and know that you have all the knowledge you need, deep within. Always, listen to your soul.
thank you!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.westerlyusa.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westerlyusa/
- Other: 🙂
Image Credits
Chris Chandler
