Today we’d like to introduce you to Ines Vieira.
Hi Ines, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I had always wanted to be a fashion designer but somehow ended up going to business school with the idea of focusing on fashion marketing.
After many positions in marketing for consumer goods, I decided that it was time to fulfill my dream and I took a position as a buyer at a big fast fashion Spanish retailer. I was very excited about it but it turned out to be very uninspiring.
I decided to leave and that was when the idea of creating Norte started. I founded the company in April 2018 and although it has been incredibly hard I am very proud of what I have achieved so far.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been incredibly hard and it has not gotten any easier so far.
The struggles have been many: Spreading the word about it with a low budget in such a saturated market; figuring out the volumes to make; finding sustainable fabrics that sell in lower quantities.
Surviving the 2020 crisis; finding the right factories to work with… at the end of the day, I had absolutely no contacts in the industry or the country so everything was built from nothing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We make women’s elegant and timeless clothing inspired by a nostalgia for the way clothes used to be made in the past and by our Spanish heritage as I am from Spain.
We focus on fit and only use fabrics that are either deadstock or sustainable such as linen, organic cotton, hemp, Tencel… We produce in very small batches in Miami and we are proud to do it this way. this is something that sets us apart.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
Yes, I view myself as a risk-taker. If I wasn’t I would never have started my own business in such a crowded industry with zero contacts of any type. I try to force myself to stay out of my comfort zone because that is how I learn.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nortewomen.com
- Instagram: @nortewomen
Image Credits
Christina Arza
