BACKSTAGE PASS

I received an email from the Times Square marketing people asking if Elegantees would like a billboard. It wasn't a scam, so I researched the cost. I laughed so hard because it's as high as $50,000 per day. At the same...

Did you know that I grew up on a farm in rural Iowa? I was unlikely to make it in the fashion industry in New York City. I didn't have good taste at first, and felt like an impostor. I...

My kids are back in school! I'm in awe of the quiet in my home office nook. It's been three months without such alone time, and I'm writing the first Friday update of this new season. Can I be honest? My...

  The new designs are the most sweet and feminine ones to date. The Garden Edit has a botanical print, a wispy floral embroidery, whimsical hem details, and a tulip hem skirt.  I also have to share that things in...

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! ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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. 

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...