We had the good fortune of connecting with Makee W and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Makee, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It started with the simple idea of working for myself and not for anyone else anymore. Considering all the factors: working for myself, working from home, and working with my hands, I decided to open my own Etsy shop featuring handmade crochet flowers. I’ve loved crocheting since I was a child. One day I saw a picture of someone selling their crochet bouquets on social media and realized I could also do that. However, I don’t want to mimic their style; I want my designs to look original and have a unique aesthetic that is not so generic. That’s why I designed my bouquets to emphasize a rustic, rural, natural, and refreshing vibe.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Hi, I am Makee, and my shop, Wilderness Floral, is a hand-made knit flower shop based in New York. As a crochet lover, I’m proud to share my passion for handcrafts and unique artistic vision with the world. Each bouquet is 100% hand-made, originally designed, and thoughtfully wrapped. What sets my design apart from other shops is my aesthetic. I specialize in natural, refreshing, minimalistic, and rustic styles.

It was definitely not easy to start a brand from scratch. From buying source materials to designing all the products, multiple photoshoots, and final marketing, I end up learning how to do everything on my own. However, it’s absolutely exciting to see how an idea turns into reality, step by step. I want my customers to feel joy when they receive these beautiful knit flowers and share the beauty with their loved ones, too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For a weekend trip, I will take my friends to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Museum. Then 8th Ave., near Sunset Park, for a taste of authentic Chinese food and culture. My favorite place for an afternoon tea is Xinfa Bakery. There is another place called Ba Xuyen, which offers the best traditional Vietnamese sandwiches. People travel far to eat there, so I would take my friends there, too.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am incredibly grateful to my partner for being there at my lowest and always supporting even my craziest ideas. When I tabled at markets, he was there to help. When I did the photoshoots, he helped me carry all the supplies. When I was frustrated by the challenges of running my shop and almost gave up, he always encouraged me to keep going. In a word, I feel very lucky to have him stand by my side.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/wildernessfloralNY

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildernessfloralny?igsh=NzAxenBmOTJvajlj&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
I took all the images myself.

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