Stitching the American Dream

How Dena DePompa built SLOW FAsHION BRAND Westerly USA from the ground up

In a quiet workshop nestled in the red rock terrain of Sedona, Arizona, something powerful is being sewn into every jacket, halter top, and silver-stamped pendant. It’s not just leather, fringe, or rawhide—it’s legacy. At the heart of it all is Dena DePompa, the founder of Westerly USA, a slow-fashion brand that is redefining what it means to live and dress the American Dream.

But for DePompa and her husband Chris Chandler—who works alongside her and acts as the resident brand photographer—that dream doesn’t come with fanfare or fame. It hums gently, like the whir of a sewing machine late at night, or the soft strength of a mother passing down a buckskin top to her daughter. “The American Dream we believe in isn’t loud,” she says. “It’s quiet, rugged, and handmade.”

Before Westerly was a brand, it was a whisper—an instinct DePompa followed with heart and hands. For over a decade, she worked behind the scenes in Los Angeles as a fit model for some of the biggest names in fashion. “It was a front-row seat to how clothes were really made,” she recalls. “From sketch to showroom, I learned about fast fashion, slow fashion, and everything in between.”

Her education wasn’t formal, but it was immersive. She sat through high-level design meetings, watched patterns take form, and understood how certain garments moved through the production process. But it wasn’t until she became pregnant and paused her modeling career that her own creative spark ignited.

She began selling vintage—hunting through estate sales and closets, repurposing old pieces, and stitching them into something new. What started as a pandemic-era hustle soon transformed into a calling. “Everything that stood the test of time was made from natural, beautiful materials,” she says. “Leather, cotton, silk. I wanted to make things that could do the same.”

That spirit of resilience led DePompa and her family from Los Angeles to a sheep farm in Montana, then on a cross-country RV journey, and finally to Sedona. Along the way, she kept creating—fringe-lined jackets made from thrifted blazers, reimagined vintage, and one-of-a-kind pieces that began turning heads. One of her earliest celebrity requests came from two stylists who requested custom pieces for country star Lainey Wilson.

“I didn’t know if she’d wear them,” DePompa admits. “But I was up until 3 a.m. sewing, then racing to FedEx.” She didn’t wait for permission. She simply created, just as she always had. Because this is what real artists do.

The Quiet Power of Craftsmanship

Every single Westerly USA piece is handmade in-house. No factories. No outsourcing. Just grit, grace, and intention.

To DePompa, success isn’t defined by likes, virality, or overnight stardom. “Success is watching something you made, with your hands and your heart, become part of someone else’s story,” she says. It’s the daughter who wears her mother’s old Westerly leather halter. It’s the woman who tries on a jacket and finally feels seen.

This commitment to slow fashion and heirloom quality isn’t a marketing gimmick—it’s the soul of the brand. “We use real materials that age beautifully: cowhide, buckskin, sterling silver,” DePompa explains. “To me, craftsmanship is a form of respect. For the land. For the materials. And for the woman who will wear it.”

Every scrap is saved. Every piece is made small-batch or to order. Every stitch holds meaning.

Though Westerly USA has been featured in Rolling Stone, Harper’s Bazaar, and on Miranda Lambert’s album cover, DePompa is not chasing fame; she’s not designing for celebrities.

“I always design for the Westerly muse, first and foremost,” she says. “She’s the woman who walks her own path. Resilient, soulful, grounded, and free.” And while the brand has seen high-profile moments—from Lainey Wilson on the red carpet to collaborations with Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott—DePompa insists her heart remains with the everyday woman.

“Yes, it’s validating to see someone like Lainey wear our pieces,” she says. “But the real magic is when a woman walks a little taller in something we made. When she feels strong, connected, and grounded in her story.”

In an age of fast fashion and instant gratification, DePompa has chosen a different route—one of restraint, reverence, and reverie.

The American Dream, Westerly Style

Westerly’s entire brand ethos is a meditation on what it means to live well in America—not through opulence or hustle culture, but through intention and authenticity. When asked to define the American Dream, DePompa doesn’t miss a beat.

“It’s the hum of a sewing machine, the weight of silver passed from mother to daughter,” she says. “It’s freedom—not just to roam, but to create. To raise your babies your way. To build something that lasts.”

It’s a dream stitched from generations. From family heirlooms, buckskin jackets, and the sewing machine passed down from her great-grandmother. “We’re not religious,” she says, “but we live with deep gratitude—for the land, the animals, and the chance to raise our children this way.”

Her words echo a spirituality that’s not dogmatic, but deeply rooted in place and purpose. “There’s a sacredness in the everyday,” she adds. “The land teaches us to slow down. The work keeps us grounded.” Though Westerly USA began long before Sedona, the city became the brand’s natural home. “This land continues to shape us,” she says. “The red rocks, the silence, the wildness—they influence everything we make.”

DePompa’s connection to the land is personal. Her father was a bowhunter who tanned hides himself. Her mother passed down rabbit fur coats and turquoise. That reverence for heritage runs deep: through her Comanche blood, through her family stories, through every garment she creates. She doesn’t chase trends or try to overproduce. Instead, she listens—to the land, to her hands, and to the women who wear Westerly.

Looking Forward: Legacy Over Hype

So, what’s next?

DePompa dreams of collaborating with Ralph Lauren, being featured in Vogue, and dressing Shania Twain—but she’s not in a rush. “We’re open to expansion,” she says, “but only if it aligns with the heart of what we do.”

That includes bridal pieces, select menswear, and custom experiences like private fittings at the National Finals Rodeo. But even as the brand grows, DePompa stays rooted in the reason she started: to make things that last.

To aspiring designers, her advice is clear: “Start with what’s true. Don’t wait for permission. Let it grow with you.”

Follow Dena and her brand on Instagram @westerlyusa for private shopping events, custom pieces, and behind-the-scenes looks from the studio in Sedona. 

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About the Author

Suzanne Kopulos has spent 20+ years as a celebrity stylist, fashion tastemaker, and lifestyle brand builder. For nearly a decade, she was represented by Ford Models—where her keen eye for emerging trends made her an indispensable part of Chicago’s fashion scene. With degrees in both business and law, Suzanne parlayed these skills into creative strategy; she has shaped campaigns for Neiman Marcus, BCBG, Ted Baker, Lafayette 148, goop, Ulta Beauty, Nike, QVC, Vital Proteins, Macy’s, Burberry, and Kate Somerville. As a fashion industry thought leader, she was regularly featured live on-air, contributing her “fresh takes” on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WGN.