Meet Natalie Ballad | Founder & Owner at OJALÁ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Ballad, Founder & Designer at OJALÁ, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I started my travel fashion brand OJALÁ because ever since falling in love with traveling and seeing the world, I’ve struggled to find stylish, yet practical clothes for my trips. For years I put up with wrinkles and lack of pockets and wore shorts under skirts to avoid compromising my style, but it was not ideal.

I talked to many other female travelers who struggled with the same issues, and I knew there had to be a better way. I couldn’t find it existing on the market, so I set out to create it. It took me over a year to perfect my pilot product, a convertible dress and bolero set called the Viajera, which can be worn in five different ways and is spill-proof, wrinkle-resistant and breathable, with a built-in bra, pockets and shorts.

What should our readers know about your business?
Meaning “hopefully” or “if only” in Spanish, OJALÁ was born from a passion for empowering women and a belief in the power of travel to change lives. We aim to make female travelers feel beautiful and comfortably confident while exploring the world because we believe they deserve to have it all. We’re building a community around a shared love of travel and international culture. Our mission is ultimately to encourage conscious travel, cultural exchange and global mindedness, and to empower women to seek a bold life without compromise.

As globe-trotters, we care about the planet and aim to be as sustainable and ethical as possible throughout our entire business. From the fabric we source, to how and where we manufacture, and the materials we choose for packaging and finishes, everything is really intentional and sustainability is top-of-mind every step of the way. To combat overproduction and reduce waste, we produce in small batches and ship with recycled packing materials that are 100% FSC certified.

We also believe in using our business to give back and support causes that help women and global communities. I am always looking for additional ways to have a positive impact and partner with other brands and organizations who aim to do the same.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live and spend most of my time on the Westside (beach girl at heart), so if we’re staying local I’d probably take them to brunch at Gjusta or the Rose Cafe in Venice, go meet up with friends for a beach day, stay to watch the sunset and grab drinks afterward at one of the many cute bars in the area. As the owner of a travel fashion brand, naturally, I love going anywhere that gives me a taste of international travel, so if we have enough time to do a road trip, I would take them to Santa Barbara—which is the closest thing we have to Spain—and Solvang, this adorable Danish village about another hour north.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to give tons of credit to all my friends and family who have supported me throughout this journey, as well as the community of supporters we’ve built along the way. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to see people resonate with our brand and mission, and I’m beyond excited to keep growing our community and bringing people with shared values together. I also want to shout out the brilliant women on my team supporting me across social media, production, design, and more who make it so fun and rewarding to be a business owner. I really couldn’t do it without them.

Website: ojalaapparel.com

Instagram: instagram.com/ojala_apparel

Image Credits
Hannah Vail Photo Gabriella Clifford