WHY INSEL ISLAND
Image from Insel-Verlag homepage
I'm always thinking about the German publisher Insel-Verlag Stefan Zweig mentioned in The Word of Yesterday.
Since it was established in 1899, it has made the criterion for the publication of work, not its commercial value but its content. To accept only works of the purest artistic expression in their purest form was the motto of this exclusive publishing house. It at first depended on a small clientele of real connoisseurs. With conscious pride in its isolation, it called itself Die Insel (The Island) and, later, the Insel-Verlag.
The Insel-Verlag’s colophon implied, at first for thousands and later for hundreds of thousands, not only a guarantee of textual quality, but also exemplary perfection of everything pertaining to the printer’s art.
Our community is deeply inspired by Insel-Verlag and named after it. We hope to carry forward their spirit: selecting, presenting, and selling what I genuinely believe and appreciate. I hope it becomes not just a website and online store, but a community where people can share and connect.
A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER
I am a Google software engineer and ex-chair of Google MTV Women@Comms. I am also a mom to a 5-year-old boy, and a lifestyle blogger. Even though working in a fast-moving industry, I embrace the slow and simple living style after work.
I traveled to many places and stayed longer to experience the local culture and life. Every time I visit a place, the most exciting thing is to explore the local galleries and germ stores. Those little things I brought home carry the city's vibe and memories.
In those galleries, I met many wonderful undiscovered local artists and artisans, most of whom are women. They can always find the potential in nature-based materials and create excellent arts and designs. Their work has strong vitality and rich imagination. The details, uniqueness, and passion expressed in the results are very different from those massive productions. Even better, they are all handmade, which does not hurt the environment.
Here at Insel Island, I want to support the women artists I love and share their creations worldwide; I want to work with them as adult women to support girls that need help. Hopefully, this is a place that brings people together, generates creation, and nurtures friendship.
OUR MISSION
DISCOVER
We are passionate about discovering emerging handmade, authentic, eco-friendly, organic, and ethical-made brands, artisans, and designers. And share their work with the world.
CONNECT
We want to build a community that comes with passion and trust to connect our designers, artists, artisans, and users, share ideas, and make friends.
