Local online clothing company provides fashion with a purpose

You’ll never wear a sweater the same again! If you’ve heard of Ella Ember, you know it’s an Indiana-based brand of alpaca clothing made for the busy woman who wants to keep warm, feel good, and look great! But even more than that, it’s apparel that is handmade with 100% prime quality yarn by highly skilled artisans in South America, giving them financial independence and empowering them to care for themselves and the lives of their children.

Here are a few facts about Ella Ember and the clothing they sell:

Why alpaca?

Alpaca has proven to be an ideal fiber for cool weather due to its wonderful qualities. It is a great addition to anybody’s wardrobe here in Indiana and the Midwest, especially between the months of October and April. Alpaca is hypoallergenic, lightweight, soft to the touch, and it offers remarkable insulation, among other things. It surpasses the warmth of wool and is soft as cashmere. Best of all, alpaca won’t suffocate the wearer like other fibers do, so it can be worn indoors and outdoors. And with the proper care, an alpaca garment will last a long time.Who do we design our garments for?

Typically, we appeal to busy women over 30 looking for exclusive and unique apparel that can be worn at work, at a get-together with their friends, or just in their everyday lives with their families. Our customers like to express their uniqueness and love the fact that our knitwear line allows them to do so. They want something that stands out in their wardrobe, something warm they want to wear again and again. We offer different styles, shapes, and colors in every collection, to appeal women of different body types and sizes, and help them look great.

What are Ella Ember’s retail price points?

Our prices range from $56 to $250, depending on the piece. Our prices are incredibly competitive, especially if you consider that most of our garments are made of 100% baby alpaca. We are working hard to keep our prices at a price point that is accessible to a wide audience, because we want people to give us a try.What inspires the designs in Ella Ember’s line?

We’re inspired by something different every year and we also follow world fashion trends in shapes and colors. This year’s collection, for example, has different shades of blues that resemble the crisp air and feel of the Andes Mountains. It also includes orange shades and deep red tones that can be seen in sunsets here in the Midwest. I’ve created deep textures in familiar neutrals, since those are always fun and add character to any knitwear piece.How are Ella Ember garments made?

We independently design our line here in Indiana and have it handmade by our artisans in South America. One of the pillars of Ella Ember’s business model is the production of garments in a humane and sustainable way. All materials are sourced in the Andean region of Bolivia and Peru from vendors that have a track record in sustainable breeding of their animals. Our artisans are organized in small family workshops around the city of La Paz, Bolivia, in the heart of the Andes Mountains. Over 80% of our artisans are women of indigenous background. All of our artisans get to work from home, while taking care of their children. We constantly train them and work hand-in-hand with them to permanently improve their working conditions at home. They set the prices for their work and get compensated accordingly.

How did we come up with the name?

We put a lot of work and effort in coming up with a name for our brand. Ella means “beautiful fairy” and Ember means “warm glow”. The reason why we chose this name is because we wanted our brand name to deeply connect with our customers in an emotional way. It had to speak to those busy women who juggle between their careers and their family lives. It had to let them know that we are here to help them satisfy that longing they have to keep warm, feel good, and look great.How has it been launching Ella Ember here in Indiana?

Having been an entrepreneur for the last 12 years, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Indiana offers a highly supportive environment for Startups. Starting Ella Ember here in Indianapolis has been an amazing experience. I had the honor to work with very talented and professional people. Although our production is sourced and produced in Bolivia, our entire company operates here in Indiana: This includes Photographers, Models, Graphic and Website Designers, Marketers, and others.

To learn more, visit www.ellaember.com.

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