The story for Ellie Kai began in 2011 in when Hostetter was living in Hong Kong and struggling to find clothing in her desired fit and style. As a result, she began working with a local tailor to create her own custom designs. Sourcing small quantities of fabrics and curating design ideas from her ongoing travels throughout Asia, Liz created patterns and designs that met her preferences and standards.

It wasn’t until Hostetter returned home for a visit to Cape Cod that she identified a major gap in the U.S. market for an accessible, Made-to-Order contemporary clothing line for women. Once the light bulb went on, the planning began. Hostetter started pounding the pavement to find the best sources of fabrics. From the beginning, she saw the design process as a true collaboration between company and client. She set up shop in a tight knit neighborhood in Hong Kong, which ultimately transitioned into Ellie Kai’s global manufacturing headquarters.

Although Hostetter now permanently resides stateside, the original Hong Kong team remains a trusted partner and in many ways, a second family, who continue to hold down the fort on the other side of the world. Ellie Kai is now a global brand, with offices in Boston, Cape Cod, Hong Kong and China.