Why I Started Locals World: Turning Style Into Storytelling (Founders Story)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the stories behind things — the hands that make, the rituals that connect, the details that transform a place into something more than a dot on a map.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the stories behind things — the hands that make, the rituals that connect, the details that transform a place into something more than a dot on a map.
Locals World started with a simple question:
What if travel wasn’t about checking off landmarks, but about living like a local — supporting the boutiques, makers, and communities that give a city its soul?
From Closet Swaps to City Guides
In many ways, Locals World began before I even named it. Hosting clothing swaps with friends, exploring farmers markets, wandering into independent boutiques — I realized these small, everyday rituals were what made life rich.
When I traveled, I noticed the same thing: the best memories weren’t the tourist attractions, but the mornings spent in a neighborhood café, the conversation with a boutique owner, the discovery of a new designer who felt like a kindred spirit.
Locals Closet grew out of this love for sustainable style and storytelling. Then came itineraries, journals, and guides — tools to help others see a city through this same lens.
Style as Storytelling
For me, fashion has never just been about clothes. It’s about narrative. A tote from Chicago, a thrifted jacket from Sarasota, a necklace made by a local artisan — these aren’t just “things.” They’re chapters in a story of place, memory, and connection.
Locals World became the way to share that story with others.
Faces, Connection & The Invitation
“What lights me up most about Locals World isn’t just the itineraries — it’s seeing the faces of friends and sisters discovering their own city in a new way.”
What I love most about Locals World is not only executing these itineraries and plans — carefully personalized with our values and perspective — but also seeing the faces of the people I share them with.
Whether I’m visiting a best friend in Chicago or my sister in Connecticut, it’s their excitement that makes this work matter: watching them light up as they step out of the house, rediscover their own city in a new way, and feel inspired to follow their curiosity.
“Locals World feels like the invitation everyone’s waiting for — to step into the yoga studio you always walk past, the café you’ve never tried, or the gallery you drive by every day but never enter.”
I believe there’s a level of semi-isolation many women experience as we grow older. These itineraries — not even hyper-personalized, but simply inspirational — offer a way to lean into who we already are, while reconnecting with our communities on a deeper level. They’re invitations to step into the yoga studio you’ve always walked past, the local coffee shop you never tried, or the gallery you drive by every day but never enter.
My sister once told me that Locals World feels like “the invitation everyone’s waiting for.” That’s the heart of this project. What has always come naturally to me — finding those hidden gems, curating experiences, and shining a light on local businesses — becomes a way for others to feel what lights me up too.
My sister once told me that Locals World feels like “the invitation everyone’s waiting for.” That’s the heart of this project. What has always come naturally to me — finding those hidden gems, curating experiences, and shining a light on local businesses — becomes a way for others to feel what lights me up too.
Why It Matters Now
We’re living in a world that moves fast, often too fast. Locals World is my way of slowing down, of showing that supporting small designers and local businesses isn’t just about shopping — it’s about creating sustainable communities, honoring creativity, and letting travel transform you.
Every city has its own rhythm. My goal is to help you find it.
This is just the beginning.
Locals World is growing into a journal, a closet, and a collection of guides designed to inspire you to travel differently.
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