Meet Virginia Castro | Founder, CEO, and Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Virginia Castro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Virginia, what inspires you?
The love for music. Ultimately that is the heart of what I do. I’m also inspired by what I do for a living, and how it makes people happy and makes them shine. There is also a lot of inspiration found in being a woman in a male dominated industry. Seeing the push back, and the struggles women have faced in the music industry over the years really makes me want to keep pushing and succeed.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What I am excited about when it comes to my business is that I went at it just raw and real. With schooling or no schooling, I believed and proved to myself and others that you can succeed and make things happen. When I started, it was after not having the money to finish college, and having to work hard for others, all the while knowing I was meant to do more and do my own work. I took the ideas I had, and I ran with them. It didn’t matter if others didn’t get it at first, I believed in my products and the designs I had, and I followed my heart. That may sound cheesy, but it’s true! I believed I could do it, and I did! Straight out. It’s really easy, especially in the face of all the challenges, and the questioning and judgement of people who don’t see things the same way as you, to get discouraged or let that get into your head. I always just told myself, “No way! I’m going to do what the fuck I know I can do!” I trusted my gut, and pushed ahead. Sure, it can get hard at times, but ultimately when those successes do come they are that much sweeter for having stuck to my truth and to my values and personal brand. There is an audience out there, there are people who are looking for what you have to offer and you can find them.
It’s what I really want others to get and see too! We need those different ideas and different voices out there. Those differences are our strengths. It’s wanting the musicians who wear my guitar straps and my accessories to let their personal style and artistry shine on stage and not just have them wearing plain boring old gear that doesn’t make sense with the rest of what they bring. Truly, it is in everything I do, and is at the heart of my success. I believe it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh man, there is a lot on offer in LA. If I had a week with someone here, the things I would do would be, first to for sure get tickets to go see a show at The Hollywood Bowl. Grab some wine and a picnic to eat at the tables there. It’s a summer time must for me and my friends. Then, I would love to take them out to go check out the museums. We have so many exciting museums in the city, with really cool and creative exhibits happening all the time. It can be so inspiring to go see what artists and people have made in other styles and eras. It could be at LACMA or The Academy of Motion Pictures museum and seeing the props and costumes, etc that are made. It’s hard to run out of museums to visit, and I don’t get out to them as often as I’d like to on my own.
Then, I would have to take them to enjoy some of the really amazing food we have in the city. The Water Grill in Santa Monica, over looking the ocean, has great food and a beautiful ambience and is a must for me. Then in Silverlake, we have so many great restaurants and just really cool shops. One of my favorite spots to eat there is Cafe Stella. The French cuisine is just delicious, but the whole setting and mood of the restaurant is intimate and just really a great way to spend an evening. Just take your time enjoying good food and good wine there. The bar there is also beautiful! Take your time there too. The pace of a meal there is very French in that way.
We could go downtown, to see some of the arts district, and take in some delicious bites and sights at Grand Central Market for lunch, with dinner someplace beautiful and nice like Perch.
If anything, it’s hard to narrow it down! I’m born and raised here, and I love the city and how much it offers. Even cruising up the PCH and enjoying the ocean views, driving through Malibu and beyond.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my parents. My dad was a very serious businessman, and worked hard all the time. As much as he was always working, he also always made a point to check in with us and make sure we were working hard to, and succeeding in what we wanted to do. He and my mom always encouraged us. Even today, when I feel down or stressed my mom just gets me to snap out of it and keep going. She’s tough, but always from a place of love. She’s also who I first think of when a new success happens and I want to share it with someone. So, yes, I believe my drive and my attitude about hard work and just staying positive and pushing forward is thanks to them.

Website: https://getmgetm.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getmgetmstraps/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginia-castro-62011036/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetmGetmOfficial

Image Credits
Wicked Rock Photography Jefe Vee lcappi photography Joe Rubinstein