In this Micronesian Monday Feature, we learn about the owner and creative mind behind EtherealisticCo, an online small business that sells stickers and more with optimistic messages and cutesy designs, including snacks from her home in Saipan.

At the cultural crossroads of the Marianas and all things kawaii, you’ll find EtherealisticCo, created by Iris Robert.

Iris is the half-Filipina, half-Micronesian shop owner behind EtherealisticCo which sells stickers, decals, keychains, and prints. Soon she’ll be producing phone cases. 

ethe.realistic

A post shared by @ethe.realistic

ethe.realistic

A post shared by @ethe.realistic

She’s now based in California, the latest backdrop in her scenic life. 

“It’s quite a journey!” the 25-year-old said. 

Born and raised on the island of Saipan, it wasn’t until 2015 that she and her mother moved to the states. They were looking for a new life, to explore the possibilities and opportunities in the states. They lived in Chicago for three years before moving to Washington state, where Iris attended college. Now Iris is in California. 

The shop came about after Iris’s partner saw her art and pushed her to share it with the world. 

“He saw how capable I am in creating art and he told me how I should just go for what I want,” Iris recalled. She also had been thinking about starting a business, even before the pandemic. 

ethe.realistic

A post shared by @ethe.realistic

Last year wasn’t a great one for her. But in December 2020, Iris made the leap. She pursued what she wanted, followed the tug of inspiration in her heart, and launched EtherealisticCo. 

“I was not in a good place last year and I can say that creating art and starting my small business really helped and improved my mental health,” she said. 

She has since sold stickers and keychains and decals to happy customers. Her stickers featuring favorite Saipan snacks like Paradise Sun iced and sweet corn chips are big hits with the sons and daughters of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Iris also creates positive, uplifting stickers in adorable designs. By far, the Paradise Sun stickers and her motivational “Don’t Be Hard on Yourself” keychain are her top-selling items. 

ethe.realistic

A post shared by @ethe.realistic

ethe.realistic

A post shared by @ethe.realistic

“The products I want to sell mostly come from things I just adore and find cute,” she said of her designs. 

Since launching, EtherealisticCo has seen sizable growth. Iris has taken a hiatus and for now, the Etsy shop is closed but people can still support her by following her social media accounts. 

“Find me on Instagram at @ethe.realistic and on TikTok @joannpuspos to keep y’all updated when my next launch is,” she said. 

Phone case designs are on the horizon and Iris said she wants to create more art infused with her culture, so fans of her work should follow her shop and social media accounts to be among the first to see what drops next.

Find EtherealisticCo on Etsy, Instagram, and TikTok, and be sure to follow Iris for more of her work.

Here’s also a tidy little link for all the places on Internet where you can find Iris: https://msha.ke/etherealisticco/

Thank you to Iris for sharing her journey as the owner of EtherealisticCo! Her products are beyond adorable and I am eager for her store to open up. 

Thank you for reading. I will write to you again, soon.
Cheers, 

Jasmine

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