Boutique founder Insa Riske: fair fashion in style
Insa Riske
Who she is: The woman from Hamburg wants to show that fair consumption and high-quality designer fashion are not mutually exclusive. Together with the entrepreneur Mechthild Schilmöller, she founded the boutique "Maygreen" in Hamburg. There is only fashion from designers who specialize in fair and ecological fashion.
Where she comes from: Insa Riske, born 1971 in Ostfriesland, has always been curious about everything new and unknown. After graduation she traveled backpacking through Asia, Australia and America for a year. Then she decided, inspired by the new media, for a training as a computer science clerk and worked for various multimedia agencies. But this work was no longer enough for Insa Riske. The topics of sustainability and ecology were very important to the mother of two: "I was looking for a way of helping to keep the environment from becoming ever more wasteful." In the kindergarten of her son, she met Mechthild Schilmöller, a like-minded. "Both of us were looking for fair and ecological fashion, which is also acceptable in the job, but in Hamburg we could not find a shop with elegant eco-fashion," says Insa Riske. The two fashion-minded women decided to use this gap in the market and even open a boutique.
What is important to her: In March 2010, the "Maygreen" opened in Hamburg's Ottensen district. The shop was designed by renowned interior designers. Riske and her business partner advise the customers personally, after all, they have chosen every garment hanging in the shop. "It is important that we do not moralize, we want to show our customers that a critical consumer behavior and fun shopping do not exclude each other," emphasizes the CEO.
About the future of fair fashion: It's a long process until the broad masses are "fairtrade", Insa Riske believes. "Buyers must realize that they can make a difference with their consumption behavior." Then they will also be ready to pay more for fair and ecological fashion. Even the fashion of Maygreen has its price, a blouse or a skirt cost already 130 euros. For Insa Riske, buying fair clothes is a matter of attitude: "The things we sell are often referred to as 'favorite items' by our customers - you may be able to afford fewer items of clothing, but you may have some pieces that you really love. " High-quality materials such as organic cotton or organic wool also keep the clothes longer. And the knowledge that minimum production standards have been met and no chemical pesticides have been used makes up for the price.
She advises women who want to become self-employed: Insa Riske and Mechthild Schilmöller draw a positive balance after three years in the business. "Our concept is highly valued by the customers, we have already established a regular clientele," says Insa Riske proudly. Women who also want to start their own business, she advises: "Do not be afraid to make mistakes! But do not make the same mistake twice." Be brave and self-confident, but find out in advance if you're the type who would like to work independently. " For example, if you need a vacation several times a year, you should think twice about becoming self-employed.
Find out more at: www.maygreen.de
