Marie Marie's innovative approach: Combining commerce and community in fashion

An idea that spiraled out of control. “If I knew three years ago what I know now, I would have done things differently,” says Marthe de Groot, the driving force behind Dutch accessory brand Marie Marie. Marketing was barely necessary for her crocheted bags, as within no time, department stores De Bijenkorf (Selfridges Group) and Bonmarché came knocking. “We'll soon be selling in Hong Kong. When I say it like that, I think: why do I sometimes think things aren't going well?”