Catherine Nation and Bhavantu at Lulu B's

Upon entering Bhavantu – tucked away on a quiet commercial street behind Ojai's arcade – you are surrounded by an ever-changing, packed array of clothing, shoes, jewelry, sensual aromas, and other treasures. The store's owner, Catherine Nation, came to this extraordinarily beautiful valley from New York City, where she worked with designer Betsey Johnson for 22 years. Spending the last 10 of those years as Betsey's Executive Vice-President of retail and marketing, Catherine opened 45 stores for the fashion icon. Although her work was exciting and productive, she yearned to live in a more natural setting where she could also focus on her yoga practice. After making the decision to leave Betsey Johnson, Catherine and her family moved to Ojai, where she passionately created Bhavantu, a haven for beautiful, edgy, innovative designs. As she constantly introduces new collections at Bhavantu, Catherine has also joined the Los Angeles-based Johnny Was team as Executive Director of retail, thus blending her Ojai store with her roots in the fast-paced fashion world. Now a mainstay in the industry, Johnny Was designs are geared to women who express their individuality and creativity through personal style. Inspired by artistic creations for urban bohemians and for those who thrive in a rural setting, Catherine Nation is melding both arenas in a unique fashion world that she knows so well.