What is style?
At SITA Couture, style is more than what we wear. It is how we move through the world. It is the ease we cultivate within ourselves, the energy we bring into a room, and the experiences we create for others. True style extends beyond clothing—it becomes part of the way we live.
Perhaps that is why one of my favorite aspects of this work is the sense of community it creates.
Fashion has always been a form of connection. While beautiful garments may bring people together initially, what keeps them gathered are the shared stories, conversations, traditions, and celebrations that unfold around them. Creating a brand that inspires confidence, ease, and self-expression naturally becomes an invitation for people to gather, connect, and celebrate life together.
Last year's summer solstice marked a particularly meaningful chapter for SITA Couture.
It was the moment we introduced Purépecha-inspired woven trims into the collection, drawing inspiration from my father's roots in Michoacán, Mexico. By a remarkable coincidence, the trims arrived on his birthday. He immediately fell in love with them, incorporating the intricate weaves into belts, borders, and finishing details throughout his designs.
These artisan elements became more than embellishments. They became storytellers.
Our menswear collection continues to reflect my father's effortless sense of style and appreciation for craftsmanship, while the introduction of these weaves opened the door to bringing those same influences into our women's designs. Each trim carries a connection to heritage, artistry, and the generations of skilled hands that have preserved these traditions.
The solstice gathering itself felt like a beautiful reflection of those values.
Friends, artists, writers, musicians, and community members came together to celebrate culture, creativity, and purpose. We were honored to support Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women / Way of the Sacred Mountain and the important work they continue to do within Indigenous communities.
Guests enjoyed moving poetry from Luz Uribe, listened to selections from Jeanmarie Tenuto's 33rd Parallel manuscript, and celebrated the launch of Native Star boutique. Warm bowls of posole nourished guests as conversations flowed throughout the evening, while local artisans shared specialty foods, handcrafted goods, and creative offerings of their own.
As the sun set, Uncle Redbird welcomed the new season with prayer, accompanied by his Kiowa drum and the powerful Red Warrior drummers. It was one of those rare moments when music, culture, community, and intention merge into something larger than ourselves.
Since moving to Encinitas, gathering for each solstice and equinox has become a cherished SITA Couture tradition.
Every season inspires a new mood, a new palette, and a new expression of style. Different colorways, silhouettes, drapes, and textures emerge as reflections of the season itself. Fashion becomes a way of honoring where we are in the present while creating space for where we are going next.
These gatherings remind us that clothing has always served a deeper purpose. Beyond adornment, it reflects identity, memory, culture, and belonging.
One of my favorite traditions is welcoming Uncle Redbird to bless each new season. His presence reminds us of something many Indigenous cultures have understood for generations: that we are deeply connected to the cycles of nature, the earth, and one another.
As my friend Jeanmarie Tenuto writes in her 33rd Parallel manuscript, understanding the rhythms of the natural world helps us better understand ourselves. My father often referred to this wisdom as Natural and Cosmic Law—an awareness that there are forces shaping our lives far beyond the material world.
At SITA Couture, these gatherings are about more than fashion, yet fashion remains an important thread running through them all.
Each garment tells a story. Each collection reflects a season. Each detail carries intention.
As we continue to grow, we remain committed to honoring heritage, celebrating craftsmanship, and creating meaningful spaces where community can flourish. This is our definition of style.
A style rooted not only in what we wear, but in how we gather, create, celebrate, and connect.
A story woven with meaning, memory, beauty, and spirit.
Red Warrior Drummers
@wayofthe Sacred Mountain
@sita_thompson
@sitacouture
Encinitas, CA
