We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Gingham Social was created because I wanted to create a space where women could come together, connect, and feel a true sense of belonging. What inspires me most is human connection, the way shared experiences and conversations can build community and remind us that we’re not alone. Seeing women support one another, form friendships, and feel seen is what continues to inspire me to grow this community. Genuine friendships can be difficult to make as an adult, especially in a transitional city like San Diego, where people are always coming and going. Through a social worker’s perspective, I’ve seen how powerful connection and community can be, and I wanted to bring that same spirit into Gingham Social.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Gingham Social is a passion project created to build an inclusive community for women to connect, grow, and celebrate each other. Our mission is to create a safe space for women to form genuine friendships and feel empowered through shared experiences. One thing that sets us apart is that we intentionally keep our events less than 25 people because we want it to be intimate enough for people to have the opportunity to talk to everyone and to also feel at ease when they arrive. Most of our girls show up to events alone and either recognize a familiar face from a previous event or make new friends. I feel like at this age, a lot of people make friends at bars, but going out and drinking isn’t always everyone’s vibe, so we created a space with no expectation, where women can come as they are and build relationships in a more relaxed environment.

We are deeply committed to working with local businesses, especially women-owned ones, to reinvest in our community and create opportunities for women and businesses to thrive together. We love to host donation-based events to focus on supporting important causes. These events allow us to combine our love of connecting people with meaningful action, so our girls can build relationships and make a real impact at the same time. We’re proud of the space we’ve created and excited to continue growing and supporting the incredible women of San Diego.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh we have SO many reccomendations but for a wine night and appetizers with the girls I’m going to The Rose in South Park. For handmade pasta im choosing Cesarina always. For sweet treats, we’d stop at Mariposas on Adams Ave for their mint and cookies ice cream and Coco and Jules for the best cookies in town. We’d have tapas and orange wine at Nomadé in Normal Heights, go vintage shopping at Mookie Studios downtown or see which market @urlocalfunkyfairy is at. We would grab matcha at Love Song in North Park and to get a little sweat in, we’d head to the Sculpt Room for hot pilates. We would shop for vintage watches at T&T Time Service before heading to Senor Mango for a smoothie and then spend an afternoon at Windansea Beach to tan and have a sunset swim. We would wake up early to snorkel with the leopard sharks by the Marine Room, and at sunset take a long walk along the beach at Torrey Pines. We’d get potato and mole tacos at El Zarape in University Heights, then walk to Kairoa for a mocktail. One night we’d head to Convoy for ramen at Raki Raki and end with karaoke. We’d take a little trip up to Encinitas for a lemon bar from Nectarine Grove and make pinch pots at Mudd House. On the weekend, we’d hit the farmers’ markets for sourdough and lemonade, hike Mission Trails and lay by the creek to yap, and catch a movie at the AMC at UTC before shopping around. We’d end with a Mission Bay bonfire making smores and drinking PNKYS with friends!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m so grateful because I’m able to put so much time and energy into this because of my fiancé, Quinn. He is the most supportive in everything that I do, and his support and encouragement make everything possible. Gingham Social honestly wouldn’t be the same without Wendy Davila. Her creativity, dedication, passion, and energy are what bring this community to life. She loves Gingham just as much as I do and it shows. I am so lucky to have met her through Gingham and to now run it with her.

Website: https://www.ginghamsocial.com

Instagram: @GinghamSocial

Other: TikTok: @GinghamSocial

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSoCal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.