What Partners and Kindred Founders Say
Become our next testimonial
“I've had the chance to work alongside Valerie on two clothing swaps at The Huntress, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. She has a way of bringing people together that feels effortless. Everything she creates is rooted in kindness, community, and a genuine desire to make fashion more sustainable.
What I appreciate most is that she's both incredibly creative and incredibly organized—a combination that's hard to find. She communicates clearly, follows through on every detail, and somehow makes everyone involved feel welcome and valued. Valerie has built something really special with Locals Closet, and it's been such a pleasure to be a small part of it. I can't wait for the next one.”
-Brooke Savona
Founder - Flora Vintage
Working with Locals Closet has been such a seamless and positive experience. They did an amazing job representing my brand at a pop-up and successfully placed my pieces in a few high-end boutiques with care and intention. Her communication was clear and consistent throughout, and Valerie executed everything thoughtfully while remaining genuinely kind and easy to work with. I’m incredibly grateful for their support and believing in my small brand.
Mary Coldsnow, Founder Coldsnow Collection
“Valerie helped me through the process, sharing practical advice and thinking through how customers would interact with the brand. Because of her, I was able to confidently showcase and sell my pieces in a real retail setting. Valerie brings together content, modeling, and storytelling in a way that feels intentional and truly helpful for brands stepping into higher-level retail.”
— Steven Alvarez, Designer of Draft Studios
Hospitality and Luxury Rental Properties
“Working with Valerie Smith has been one of the best investments I've made for my business. She completely transformed my brand by developing a cohesive visual identity and providing exceptional creative direction that brought every aspect of the business together. From the logo and brand identity to the website design, messaging, and overall aesthetic, every detail was thoughtfully considered and beautifully executed.
Valerie has a remarkable ability to understand a vision and elevate it beyond what you imagined. She was incredibly easy to work with—responsive, collaborative, and always bringing fresh ideas to the table. Her creative direction ensured that every element of the brand felt consistent, authentic, and memorable.
Since launching the new website and brand, we've seen a significant increase in inquiries, bookings, and sales. The website not only looks beautiful but also tells our story in a way that resonates with prospective clients and gives them confidence to book.
I couldn't be happier with the results and wholeheartedly recommend Valerie to anyone looking for a talented designer and creative director. Her ability to combine strategy, branding, visual identity, and outstanding design has had a measurable impact on my business, and I look forward to working with her again in the future.”
Domaine Casa del Sol, Hospitality Rental Property in South of France opened in 2026
“Creative, talented, professional, and kind. Working with Valerie brings inspired photography visions to life. With her dedication and drive, she expands on her clients’ ideas and turns them into something real. Valerie approaches every project with care, making her clients feel safe, heard, and supported while bringing together creative direction, styling, modeling, and storytelling to produce truly captivating content.”
— Annie Rose
Press.
Press.
“Back by popular demand after a successful December event…
Both are ticketed, thoughtfully organized, experience-driven events that last a day or two, hosted in carefully chosen, impeccably styled venues.”
— The Recorder
“In the age of e-commerce & social media people are eager for personal connection — not only to each other but to what they wear and what they buy.
In December people stayed chatting in the shop for hours — how nice it was to bring people together during the cold winter months.”
— Sophie MacNeil, Store Manager of The Huntress
“There is integrity in less is more.
Swaps are the ultimate in circular fashion because it gives an item a second or third life, and support the mindset of ‘reuse, don’t use and discard.’”
— Valerie Jana Smith, Founder of Locals Closet
“It started as a lifestyle guide to help others immerse themselves in the sights and style of a given place, celebrating the hands and hearts of local creatives who make it unique.”
— Valerie Jana Smith, Founder of Locals World
Marketing Specialist
“Thank you so much for all your hard work on behalf of our company. You really breathed new life into our company and our marketing strategy. Based on the information we provided in terms of our objectives, you gave us a great road map to achieve those goals! I loved your observations as well, particularly the ones that dealt with capturing qualified leads from our site traffic. You've done an outstanding job and I'm sure by implementing many of your recommendations and suggestions, we're going to increase our website traffic as well as quality candidates, new clients, and ultimately increased sales.
Once again, thank you for your insights and marketing expertise. I really can't wait to start implementing your new strategies.”
Former Customer