Wow,
2014 here at Maria Luisa was really something.
And
we thank you, our preferred customers, for being with us every step of the way.
 |
| The Maria Luisa team |
It’s
become our custom to pause before the start of each new year, take a few
moments to look back and savor all that has passed.
Your
continued support and loyalty are among the most rewarding aspects of what goes
on at both
Maria Luisa Boutique and
ML by Maria Luisa.
Our team members
genuinely enjoy talking with you, catching up with you — and helping you
find that perfect outfit, shoe, necklace or gift.
From
the earliest days of last January all the way through this recent holiday
season, we have been looking ever forward, which is always reflected in what we
offer.
 |
ML/GL
Launch Event |
Yes,
there is a “Maria Luisa look,”and it’s one that continues to evolve.
We
continue to seek out the most unique fashions, accessories, gifts and
home-décor items to offer you in our shops. And, as you know, who makes those
items is very important to us. We have long supported the artisan way, the
shopping local movement, the Fair Trade methods of production.
A major effort
 |
Frances Pratt, Nyack Mayor Jen White,
NY Congress Woman Nita Lowey,
Senator David Carlucci and Maria Luisa
|
Perhaps
the biggest moment of this year for us was the official launch of the Maria
Luisa/Global Local Initiative this autumn. It was an exciting evening – with local
dignitaries in attendance – when we officially launched the initiative that
formalizes what we have been doing for decades.
Hopefully,
you are well aware of this new program – and we thank all those who have so
heartily embraced it by shopping online at marialuisaboutique.com. In short,
it’s a way for us to continue to offer you goods created by those artists,
artisans and companies whose philosophy aligns with ours, a way to bring
you
what we feel is the very best while also supporting our local community, of
which we are a very active and proud part.
With
ML/GL, when you shop online, we have made the commitment to donate 10% of the
proceeds to a local nonprofit. You shop, and we donate to The Nyack Center,
People to People or VCS Pride – whichever organization you designate. Of
course, you can also opt to support the ML by Maria Luisa Scholarship Fund,
also launched this year. We look forward to awarding the scholarship this
spring to a deserving female high-school senior who has demonstrated an
understanding of and commitment to the principles of civic and community
involvement, of social justice and of Fair Trade and eco-minded endeavors.
Our
own commitment to such endeavors is something we strive to carry out every day,
as exemplified by our
“Say NO! to the Bag” campaign, which continues to grow.
Keep Rockland Beautiful, marched in support of our cause.
We will always ask if you need a bag in our efforts to reduce (and eventually
do away with) the prevalence of single-use plastic bags. Perhaps you saw our
most outward sign of the effort on Halloween? Yes, that was Maria herself as the
'Bag Beauty', Bill Batson as the
'Bag Beast' – and
quite a few team members – sporting fashions created out of recycled bags as
we, along with
With honors
 |
| Social Justice Day |
The
year has been one of further public recognition, with Maria Luisa Whittingham
receiving several honors. In January, she was recognized during Nyack College’s
2014
Social Justice Day Luncheon, while November found her accepting another
award, this time during the fourth annual
Hispanic Business Awards.
But,
of course, Maria will be the first one to tell you she’s not in it for the
recognition. Her quiet support of so many causes and efforts over the years
attests to that fact. Still, when the need is there, Maria is not shy about
speaking up as she did with her persuasive
“Shop Local” op-ed piece published
in The Journal News and on LoHud.com in late summer.
A new look
With
an eye always on the future, Maria Luisa took several major steps this year, as
well. First up was an ambitious construction project that transformed
ML by
Maria Luisa. It was a long haul, but the “sneak peek” special event, held in
conjunction with September’s
“First Friday” event followed up by an entire
weekend of “Grand Re-Opening” festivities in October let us all know the work
was more than worth it.
In
addition, Maria Luisa thanks you for all your votes that allowed her to advance
in “
Main Street Mission Grant,” a grant program from Chase. The program
included an intense application project completed in hopes of securing funds
that would allow the business, primarily on the infrastructure and technology
front, to advance to another level.
(Keep your fingers crossed as we await the
announcement of the winners in early 2015.)
The art of business
Throughout,
there are those “everyday” efforts that Maria Luisa participates
Nyack
High School’s Arts Angels program. The shops were also part of the annual
ArtWalk event and further supported arts events ranging from a film screening
at The Edward Hopper House Art Center to the
Local Arts Index, which appears in
Nyack News & Views.
(Many of the featured artists have also exhibited at ML by Maria Luisa).
in that simply
add to the richness of Nyack life. Once again, the shops took part in every
Nyack street fair and welcomed countless guests to “First Friday” events,
including a most memorable evening that spotlighted the young talent of
The
year also saw
Maria’s return to Peru, where she was invited back as part of a
program designed to increase trade. She connected with many new artisans and
small companies whose beautiful handiwork continues to be featured in the
shops.
Not
bad, right?
And
those are just the highlights.
As
you can see, it’s been quite a year.
We
can’t wait to see what 2015 brings — and we look forward to seeing you at Maria
Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa soon, when we can wish you a “
Happy,
Healthy New Year” in person.
–
Mary Shustack, Maria Luisa newsletter editor.
And one of those classic "signs of spring" is the return of the Nyack street fairs. 
