PAU Boutique, founded by Bolivian designer Paula Del Castillo, offers preloved luxury and unique home decor while championing sustainability and family entrepreneurship in Newport on the Levee.
Nestled in the vibrant shopping area of Newport on the Levee, PAU Boutique stands out as a distinctive destination for vintage clothing, preloved luxury items, and unique home decor. This boutique serves customers seeking quality secondhand treasures and has quickly become a beloved spot among those who appreciate sustainable fashion and distinctive style.
PAU Boutique was founded by 28-year-old Paula Del Castillo, a Bolivian native with a lifelong passion for fashion and creativity. Having grown up in La Paz, Bolivia, Del Castillo moved to Newport, Ohio, with her family. She carried with her a creative spirit and personal style that had been evident since childhood. Following her passion, she attended the University of Cincinnati’s design, architecture, art, and planning program, earning a fashion design degree in 2021.
Del Castillo’s vision for PAU Boutique is deeply rooted in sustainability and environmental consciousness. “Though designing my own sustainable brand was always in the back of my mind, knowing how much fast fashion waste is polluting our earth is what reassured me that trying to keep things out of landfills and giving pieces a second life is my priority,” she shared.
Launching the boutique involved careful planning and dedication. Paula crafted a business plan, developed the store’s name and mission, built a website, and established a social media presence. Procuring merchandise required patience and strategy as she sourced items from online auctions, charity shops, and places like Goodwill. Del Castillo emphasized the importance of rescuing items on the verge of disposal, thereby preventing unnecessary waste.
“The thrift community is made up of creative individuals with love for unique, quality items and sustainability,” she explained. Beyond just selling clothes and accessories, PAU Boutique champions the values of mending, fixing, and upcycling—giving new life to pieces previously deemed unusable.
Running a boutique is an extensive endeavor, which led Del Castillo to enlist the help of her sister, Adriana Del Castillo, an anthropology graduate from Northern Kentucky University. Adriana manages the store a few days a week and values the familial connection the business promotes. “I enjoy the fact that, first off, I’m helping my sister and helping my family. Because to us, that’s one of the most important aspects of life—being very family-oriented. And I also enjoy having a small impact in mass production,” she noted.
As a Latina-owned, family-run business, PAU Boutique represents the growing trend of community-focused small business support in Newport. Adriana highlighted the increasing local awareness and appreciation: “I think a lot more people are starting to gravitate toward helping small businesses. And I think it makes an impact knowing it’s Latina-owned.”
Customers like Kasey Kirchner from Louisville expressed admiration for PAU Boutique’s unique ambiance and reasonable prices. “My first impression of the store was that it had a very unique vibe with different clothes and knick-knacks. I have never seen a store like that before, and I thought it was cool,” Kirchner said. She also expressed a new understanding of the significance local businesses hold in their communities.
Looking ahead, Paula Del Castillo envisions PAU Boutique as an ongoing project that will continue to evolve and broaden its impact. Her aim goes beyond retail; she hopes to influence consumer habits and promote the values of slow fashion. “I hope to impact my customers and community by speaking about slow fashion and questioning our consumption habits within this capitalist society. Of course, while also empowering women and encouraging old school glamour and quality clothing,” she explained.
Reflecting on the journey so far, Del Castillo expressed satisfaction in the authenticity of her work. “What I love most about what I do is how authentic I feel doing it. No one business is perfect & there will always be critics, but we try every day to be a bit better and do what we can to not only feel fulfilled in our society but also be true to our values,” she stated.
PAU Boutique invites those interested in discovering secondhand fashion gems to explore its carefully curated offerings, turning what was once forgotten into treasured finds. The boutique exemplifies a growing movement toward sustainable consumption, family entrepreneurship, and community connection in Newport on the Levee.
Source: Noah Wire Services
