Winston Paul is a clothing and accessory company based on the Navajo Nation Reservation and owned by a Diné woman, Calandra Etsitty. The business was named after Calandra’s younger brother, Winston and late grandfather, Paul and offers a wide variety of products such as handmade makeup bags, traditional contemporary two-piece outfits and customized outfits inspired from a mixture of traditional and urban influences. Since opening, Winston Paul has sold its items online and at various artisan and flea markets. However, as of September 2023, the business now has its very own storefront in Window Rock, Arizona.
UNM Rainforest Innovations and the Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program first engaged with Calandra and Winston Paul when Tribal Liaison, Mytegia Lee met Calandra at a Native Women Lead Conference in October of 2022. Since that first meeting, Mytegia has continued to engage with Calandra through her role as a Tribal Liaison for the UNM Rainforest Innovations Tribal Entrepreneurship Enhancement Program. Over the past year, Mytegia has referred Calandra to different resources, educational workshops, and funding opportunities. She also sat down with Calandra in November of 2022 to walk her through the process of applying for an EIN number. Less than a year later, Calandra continues to operate her business online and has recently announced the grand opening of a storefront in Window Rock.
While there are many complexities and challenges that still exist for business owners such as Calandra running their business and opening a storefront on their ancestral land, this is an exciting development and a success for the Navajo Nation’s growing economic and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Check out the Winston Paul website and their recent restock or visit the storefront!
Winston Paul Storefront
Chi’ihootso Indian Market Place
167A AZ-264, Unit 10
Window Rock, AZ 86515
https://winstonpaul.co/
