A local entrepreneur who spent nearly two decades in the corporate world is now turning her passion for fashion into a growing business in Bay View.
Mariela Rivera, owner of Ela Mari Boutique, recently opened the doors to her new storefront and says the boutique is about much more than clothing; it’s about helping women feel confident and empowered.
Located in Bay View on Kinnickinnic Avenue, the boutique features colorful statement pieces and carefully curated collections inspired by Rivera’s Puerto Rican roots.
“I’m an island girl and I love color,” Rivera said. “I love statement pieces and different things like that, so that’s what I started buying for myself.”
Before launching Ela Mari Boutique, Rivera spent more than 18 years working in corporate finance. While she says she appreciated that chapter of her life, the pandemic pushed her to reevaluate what truly made her happy…