BACKSTAGE PASS

YOU MADE IT A SUCCESS!
As we're wrapping up our Buy One, Get One Free event, I have to THANK YOU! We had our best BOGO kickoff in years. Thousands of website visits, many of you shared on social media, with a record number of first-time supporters! ...
REBUILDING IN NEPAL
We could use your help to complete our biggest pivot yet! OUR BIGGEST PIVOT In the past few years, due to COVID and other reasons, our work has felt less impactful than before. Our costs were up 50%, and math...
UNTIL THE FALL
Writing to you weekly is a joy for me! Yet, this will be my last email for some time. I've been feeling a nudge to break from writing Founder Fridays. My kids are now home for the summer, and I love...
FIGHTING CORRUPTION
What keeps people in poverty around the world? The love of money. The most greedy governments have the deepest poverty. It keeps human trafficking alive. Greed also widens the gap between rich and poor. I saw this in Nepal. The lowest social...
501(C)3 UPDATE
Two months ago, I shared that if we could find a way to separate our non-profit activities from our product costs, then we could do more. Imagine if outreach and job skill training was funded by donors. Grants could cover this expense...
A SPECIAL GUEST WRITER
This week's post is written by my 9 year old daughter. She wants to be considered for taking over the business one day, so this is an audition. Before I hand the mic over, here's a peak at the Tori...
TO WAIT IS WISE

I've been learning. Looking back at last Fall, you may recall that our partnership with Nepal was uncertain. Costs increased too much. Any move to keep going felt very risky. I waited, because it's what God told me to do. 

INTERNS FOR THIS SUMMER
I’m excited for what’s happening on May 30. It’ll be the first day on the job for two summer interns! They will be taking on marketing with the fashion point of view. These ladies are excited, and I know they will...
ITS BEEN A GOOD WEEK
Now that it's May already, Summer is in sight! I'm looking forward to letting my city kids run barefoot when we visit family in Iowa. For work, it'll be about our fall collection. Our plan for this summer is to...
WORKING ON NEW DESIGNS
It's been a week of product development. It's my favorite role in the business! When we grow into a larger team and delegate out different areas of the business, development is the one I will stay in! Here's a glimpse...
EVERY SEVEN YEARS
As I write to you this week, I'm honored to share the faces of the people who make our clothing in India. The smiles are there because the sewing jobs are positively impacting their lives. They want to say THANK...
A POWERFUL LETTER
This week's update is from a customer who grew up in Nepal, and moved to the States twenty years ago. I asked her permission to share it because her heart's passion moved me to tears. These are the reasons we...
NONPROFIT PLANNING
We put the final touches on our pre-Fall collection this week. Here's the embroidery color we're going with for a top coming in August!   Back in February, I needed to figure out how to get healthier finances. Then a...
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW
Many people ask, “Where do you see yourself in one year from now?” This is a tough question. My goals are often too big to achieve in a short time. Big goals take 5+ years. It's important to remember that...
GET TO KNOW ME
I'm Katie Martinez, the Founder of Elegantees. Today I'll add a photo of myself because I'm inspired to share my story. I wasn't a victim of sex trafficking, but could have been.
SIMPLIFYING WITH NO FASHION WEEK
Behind the scenes of a spring shoot This has been a week of many things being simplified. I had to let go of some things that are dear to me, but I can see good come out of it. I'll...
MADE IN INDIA
The sewing center in India where some Elegantees are made   I'd like to share more on how India came about for us. It's a country that exports a lot of products made by slave and child labor. You already...
THAT $6 TANK TOP
A preview of upcoming designs   Yesterday I walked into a mainstream fashion retailer and I couldn't believe my eyes. Tank tops going for $6 each. If we were to produce the same tank, it would cost more than that...
BALANCING WITH HOPE
Last week I shared that eliminating hurry from decision-making is a game changer. This doesn't make problems go away. However, I can walk with a lightened burden. The hope I have is an anchor in the storm.
"HURRY" RARELY WORKS
Building slow is contrary to our culture. Our culture has it all wrong though! What if we live more like Jesus did on earth? He wasn't in a hurry to do things, even when someone desperately needed healing. Lately, I'm making...
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES
I'll be a guest speaker at my son's career day today. The first graders might think I'm cool after this! My hope is that they'll be inspired to make a positive impact in the lives of others, no matter their...