BACKSTAGE PASS

This photo shows a set from our new waffle knit pieces. We either love or dislike social media, or we go back and forth in how we feel about it. I go back and forth. If it were not for...

Since today's update is about models, I didn't want to share a photo of any person. Enjoy this peek at the new Winter colors we're bringing in next month!    A customer recently requested size XL models. In just one month, she...

It's time to take the next steps. Thanks to an unexpected phone call this week with an Elegantees supporter, I've now got a deadline to get the 501(c)3 registered. She'd like to make a generous donation for the vision to step...

“Even the right decisions could plummet you into anxiety" is something a friend told me. We were speaking about moving into a larger space in Nepal, and with me delegating more. Do not be timid.  Someone replied to last week's...

A NEW SPACE IN NEPAL A new space has been moved into this week. This has been emotional for me. It's large enough to bring in more seamstresses than we've ever had before! With that though, I go back and...

I'm super tired because I stayed up 4 hours past my bedtime two nights in a row. The special occasion was hanging out with Elegantees Insiders. I couldn't sleep with all the fun we had! We gathered in Nashville. Our retreat...

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...