Young
Mohawk designer Tammy Beauvais understands very well that starting
your own business is no ticket to the easy life. "You have
to work hard to make a name for yourself," she says.
Beauvais's
name is getting more attention these days, thanks to the cashmere
shawls she created for the wives of 34 heads of state attending
the Summit of the Americas in Québec City. She made the shawls
at the request of Aline Chrétien, wife of the Prime Minister.
Beauvais has received some orders for her clothing as a result of
that high-profile exposure. But she's very aware that she's just
starting out, and that a great deal of work lies ahead.
Opening
her own fashion design company, Tammy Beauvais Designs, in Kahnawake,
Quebec in January 1999, was her childhood dream come true. Since
she was 10 years old, Beauvais has wanted to follow in her grandmother's
footsteps. A highly respected member of the community, her grandmother
made traditional clothing for children and adults. "She had
a big influence on my work," says Beauvais, who incorporates
traditional Mohawk symbols into her designs.
In
just two-and-a-half years, Beauvais has succeeded in creating her
own niche in the fashion world. With the help of her friend, Marvin
Delormier, her designs are now sold in more than 40 boutiques in
Canada and the United States. "Marvin was a big help in finding
stores interested in selling my work," Beauvais explains. "I
find the rest of my business on the road, at pow-wows, conferences
and trade shows."
The
young designer's next goal is to open an Aboriginal Fashion Centre
in Kahnawake - a project that will likely take a few more years
before it becomes a reality. "I can't achieve this dream by
myself," Beauvais admits. "I need the support of my community
and of other designers. I've already met with one designer in Kahnawake
and another one in Toronto to get the project going."
To
realize this dream, Beauvais plans to hire about 20 people to produce
authentic Aboriginal clothing of the highest quality. The Centre
will offer training on computerbased design, and provide international
marketing services to Aboriginal people from North America and around
the world. It will also help develop international partnerships
for the exchange of materials for clothing created by Aboriginal
designers. Beauvais recognizes this is a tall order, but she has
no doubt about the project's feasibility. "It's big, but it
can be done," she says confidently.
In
May, Beauvais attended the 8th World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs
in Brussels, Belgium, with the help of funding from Aboriginal Business
Canada. There, her idea for the Aboriginal Fashion Centre was very
well received, and caught the interest of five young designers from
Laos, Ireland, Nigeria, Uganda and Benin. With these new colleagues,
Beauvais plans to create an international design centre on the Internet
so that young designers from around the world can offer each other
support and advice. She sees the Internet site as an exciting complement
to the Aboriginal Fashion Centre, and a project from which young
Aboriginal designers worldwide can benefit.
For
more information, visit the Tammy Beauvais Designs Web site at www.tammybeauvais.com
Museums
Showing Tammy Beauvais Designs
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Heard
Museum Phoenix, Arizona
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Mashantucket
Pequot Aboriginal Museum, Connecticut
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McCord
Museum of Canadian History, Montreal
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Tammy
Beauvais Designs Wall of Fame
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Robert
DeNiro owns one of Tammy's satin Tree of Peace Vest
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Eric
Roberts owns a Tammy Beauvais Designs Cashmere Wool Scarf
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Pope
John Paul II owns a satin Katri Tekakwitha Scarf
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Aline
Chretien and all the First Ladies of North, South, and Central
America own a famous Sky Women Cape
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Shows
and Events featuring Tammy Beauvais Designs
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Eitel
Jorg Indian Market Indianapolis, Indiana
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Echos
of a Proud Nation Powwow Kahnawake, Quebec
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Santa
Fe Indian Market Santa Fe, New Mexico
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Gonandagon
Rochester, New York
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Heard
Museum Phoenix, Arizona
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