7.20.2021
Camino: new Napa downtown retailer offers ‘bespoke’ florals, decor
Craig Smith
napavalleyregister.com
Christina Yan, who recently opened Camino at 1270 First St., directly across from Compline, still remembers the first time she stepped foot inside the San Francisco Flower Market.
“I was still working my corporate job and needed flowers for a high-profile event. It was 5:00 in the morning. When we walked in, I was overwhelmed,” she said. “For me, it was walking into an entirely new world. All the colors, all the flowers—it really sparked my interest.”
Camino is a home décor and lifestyle shop, with emphasis on floral and gifts. Their tagline is “Camino — Bespoke Florals, Home Décor and Lifestyle Goods.”
It’s intentionally descriptive enough for people to understand, and also leaves room for the business to evolve. So far, flowers are the big thing for Yan.
“Our arrangements are whimsical and organic. We bring our decorations to life using grasses, berries, seedpods — things people haven’t seen before — just to spark conversation.”
She also mixes dried flowers in with live, making arrangements all the more unique. And there’s more to come.
“We’ll soon be offering floral design workshops for both the general community and up-and-coming florists looking to hone their skills.”
Five years ago, when Yan was first looking for workshops for herself, the offerings were sparse and expensive.
“Workshops were upwards of $5,000, so I often resorted to scouring YouTube for basic tutorials. Ours will be accessible, hands-on and will inspire people to explore flowers as a medium of art.”