ARLINGTON, Texas—What began as a difficult vendor journey turned into a growing business for Lila Castillo and her daughter, Lila Lizette Castillo–a mother-daughter team driven by passion, purpose and a love for community.

Lila Castillo, a small-business owner herself, was once traveling from market to market, struggling to find the right fit.

“It got to the point where I thought, ‘Maybe it’s not for me,’” she said. But her daughter offered a solution. “Why don’t you create your own?”

That question sparked the beginning of something bigger than they imagined. Castillo agreed on one condition: “If you do it with me, I’ll do it.”

Together they launched Pretty Little Things Market, a local market rooted in vendor-focused values.

“We knew what we wanted as vendors ourselves,” Castillo said. “We wanted to be seen, and we wanted to be prioritized.”

Pretty Little Things Market runs monthly events at Inclusion Coffee and Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, as well as at venues in Fort Worth.

Castillo brings her own business to some markets, selling Latina-based products that reflect her cultural pride and childhood.

Their events also feature creative themes, like their “bookish market,” to share their love of reading passed down through generations. Their shared strengths help make the business run smoothly.

Their next scheduled Arlington event is Holiday of Lights Parade and Market Dec. 13 at Levitt Pavilion. For all of their upcoming events, visit them on Facebook or Instagram.