Dear friends, I am Inkeri
Founder of Arctic flamingo
I am an entrepreneur, a yogi, a mother of three children, a Finn in Germany, a citizen of the world and always a bit of an outsider.
The joy of movement, respect for nature and the cheerful ignoring of unnecessary norms and rules are my thing. This is how my yoga brand Arctic Flamingo and the wild yoga leggings came about!
not logical - but feels right!
I never thought that one day I would work in the fashion industry and become an entrepreneur, let alone own my own label. The story of me and Arctic Flamingo is probably not the one you would expect, but it's actually quite simple.
Imagine: There I was, a little lost in life, abroad with a small child and no great career because I never knew what to do or what I was good at.
But I had a great love for yoga, colorful clothes and of course leopard print! No impressive design schools, no glamorous internships at big brands - just a sewing machine and my passion for eye-catching fashion. And so began the adventure that eventually led to the founding of Arctic Flamingo.
Love and Chaos
Like with a child
Arctic Flamingo is like a fourth child to me; loved, sometimes impossible! There are always difficulties and there always will be.
Being a sole proprietor is usually not easy, but the feeling of freedom and living according to your own values is ultimately invincible! That is exactly why Arctic Flamingo has remained a part of my life for so long.
Arctic Flamingo is all about "freestyling" - it's about not following what others do, but trusting your own instincts. Sometimes that means being a little crazy and wild in the eyes of others - Just like our colorful leggings!
All the best & see you soon, Inkeri
What would Frida do?
How Arctic Flamingo was born
It was never planned that way...
It all started with yoga leggings that I designed and sewed for myself during my maternity leave in 2015. I wanted the leggings to have a unique pattern and be made of recycled fabric. Then something amazing happened. Friends from the yoga studio where I used to practice in Munich became aware of my designs and I decided to open an Etsy shop. The yoga leggings left the sewing table in my living room and made their way out into the wide world!
Over the years, the brand has grown and a lot has changed, but the core of Arctic Flamingo has remained the same: the design and production of colorful yoga leggings made from sustainable materials locally in Germany.
Munich
2015
During my first parental leave, I designed and sewed the very first yoga leggings for myself. I was actively practicing yoga at YamYoga in Munich and wanted to design a pair of yoga leggings that weren't available anywhere else and that would stand out. I definitely had no intention of starting my own label!
2016
The fancy yoga leggings caught the attention of my yoga friends and I decided to open an Etsy shop so I could sell them online. I was busy designing and adapting patterns, creating the design and sewing the leggings in my living room. One of the very first designs was "First Snow", which I still offer in the shop! The design is based on a photo from Finland, where I'm from.
2017
I realized that if I wanted to develop the brand and make money from it without going crazy, I could no longer sew the leggings myself. I found my seamstress, Mrs. Stieglitz, and she started cutting and sewing the leggings for me. We are still partners today and she and her team sew some of our yoga leggings in their small factory in Saxony.
2018-2019
Things started to get "serious" and I set up our own webshop alongside the Etsy store and organized our first real photoshoot. And it was during the latter that I realized that I can't afford photoshoots every time, I have to take the photos myself! Since then, the concept has been to feature local yogis in our photos and have me behind the camera. I love it!
Munich
2020-2021
The crazy Corona years. The orders came in without me doing any marketing. I packed the orders on a clothes rack in our bedroom because we didn't have room for a work table in our small apartment. One day I had my third child and three days later I was packing the orders again. It was a wonderful time!
Polling in Upper Bavaria
Arctic Flamingo at a turning point. A lot has changed at Arctic Flamingo over the years, but a lot has also stayed the same. What's next for Arctic Flamingo? Is it time to invest a lot of money in paid marketing? Or find a less-trodden path that fits my values?
"I hope my bold and vibrant designs inspire you to practice more yoga! I enjoy designing these eye-catching prints and researching new, innovative and sustainable materials for yoga wear.
I look forward to connecting with yogis, yoga teachers and other environmentally conscious businesses - please contact me if you share my values and would like to collaborate with me!"
Inkeri Glova, founder of arctic flamingo
