Week in Review #52: A Decade of Creating with Intention

Ten years in, I’m grateful for the growth, the lessons, and the chance to keep using this work to support causes that matter.

It’s officially the start of my birthday month, and I couldn’t be happier about it. On Wednesday I celebrated with a few girlfriends (one of whom also has an October birthday), and it felt like the perfect way to kick things off — laughter, stories, and a good excuse to toast to another trip around the sun. Later this month I’ll be in New York for my actual birthday, and while traveling on your birthday can be hit or miss, this one feels extra special: I’ll get to spend the week with Brian and my friends, ending it with two days of The Conscious Closet pop-up with Reed Vintage and Yearly Company. October is my favorite month to be in New York and I can’t wait.

And, as if one celebration wasn’t enough, this week also happens to mark TEN YEARS in business. A full decade! That feels both surreal and grounding all at once. Ten years of building, learning, and growing — it’s a milestone I don’t take lightly. It’s been full of highs and lows and big learnings and moments wondering, “Why am I even doing this?!” mixed with so many days with a heart full of gratitude that I get to do work that I love.

2015 — my hallway “office” where it all started

2016 — my first pop-up event at Madewell in Carlsbad. I made every one of those pieces by hand in my living room.

2019 — Our jewelry was sold on Madewell.com for the fall and holiday season, and in connection with that I had a chance to speak on a panel at the Create Cultivate Small Business Summit

A peek at my home office we eventually created so I could store all of my materials, have a dedicated space to make the jewelry, shoot photography and pack all of the orders.

So many trips to the post office! To this day, I still love seeing your orders go out (though I’m very thankful that our postman does pickups from the studio every day for us now!)

2023 — after a little break, I relaunched Natalie Borton Designs at the first annual MARCHÉ event in San Francisco and it felt SO GOOD to create the collection and to reconnect with customers. We’ll be back again in November for the third year in a row!

2024 — Took my passion for handbags to the next level and designed two bags with my friend Abby to test the waters a bit. We visited Kenya to finalize our design process for both. Such an incredible experience that deepened my passion for artisan-made and sustainably-made goods.

2024 — launched the Natalie Belt, which quickly became our best seller and is a style we continue to struggle to keep in stock.

2024 — opened a shop-in-shop inside TEJIDO up in Carmel by the Sea. I still have big dreams of expanding our presence in this area, which is endlessly inspiring to me and my favorite place to be (besides home, of course!)

2025 — Opened up our first storefront and expanded our team to four. Sydney (in the denim vest) was my very first intern and has been with me from the start — I love that we still get to work together!

2025 — launched the Sera Bag and the Maren Essential Belt, both produced locally here in Southern California. More to come from both of these styles this fall, and a lot more leather goods are coming in 2026!

There are so many more moments to remember, but I’ll stop here and just say that I’m feeling very grateful this week that this is still how I get to make a living. It’s such a gift to have a creative and personal career like this, and even more of a joy to share it with an incredible team of women.

Which of course, brings me to another incredibly meaningful part of the week. On Saturday, my team and I (along with our guys!) attended the GenerateHope Garden Party.

The event raises support for survivors of sex trafficking, a cause that is both sobering and profoundly important. Giving back has always been at the heart of Natalie Borton Designs, and evenings like this remind me why community and purpose matter so much in the work we do.

So this week, I’m raising a glass to many things: another year of life, a decade of work, and the power of coming together to support something bigger than ourselves.

Thought of the Week

via @growwithcolby

October Mood

October always feels like a turning point — the air shifts, the layers come out, and routines feel a little more steady. This month’s moodboard is all about the pieces and textures I’m reaching for right now: chocolate suede, croc-embossed leather, sculptural brass, lived-in denim with a sharp blazer, and the kind of knits that make you want to cozy up with a good book.

These images capture what I want this season to feel like — glasses of wine with friends, walking through the city as the leaves start to turn, and the quiet confidence that comes from relying on simple, well-chosen accessories. For me, fall style isn’t just about staying warm — it’s about dressing with intention and letting the details do the work.

Grounding neutrals, deep browns, and timeless textures are what I’ll be carrying into October.

October Reads

These are the books I plan to tackle this month — 

• Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden (already reading and hope to finish by tonight or tomorrow)

• Told You So by Mayci Neeley (ordered via Book of the Month and I cannot wait for it to arrive!!)

• Lies & Weddings by Kevin Kwan (for my book club)

If you made it this far, you’re the real deal and I appreciate you. Until next time!

xx Natalie