Developing A Fashion + Lifestyle Biz Partnership with Trisha Pitura and Mélanie Bernard
“What’s really important to us is that whatever leaves our hands with our name on it is top of the line.”
- Trisha Pitura
Get ready to be inspired! In this episode of the Road to Seven, I sit down with Trisha Pitura and Mélanie Bernard, the founders of the online boutique and manufacturing company MINI TIPI. Through the MINI TIPI brand, Trisha and Mélanie design, make, and sell products featuring gorgeous, authentic Indigenous designs — and use their profits and platform to support artists and their community.
In this thoughtful conversation, we explore the importance of story to the pieces sold through their brand, the impact that they hope to create for their families, team, and their wider community, and the biggest challenges they’ve faced along the way.
In this episode of the Road to Seven podcast, you’ll discover:
How Trisha’s hobby of sewing baby wash cloths evolved into a successful clothing and accessories brand
The process of turning a design idea into a finished product — and how they work with their artists
How they have successfully maintained their friendship while growing their business partnership
About Guests: MINI TIPI was founded in 2016 by Trisha Pitura and Mélanie Bernard. It is a women-owned manufacturing company that designs, creates, and sells beautiful products that are made for everyone. They use authentic indigenous designs to celebrate and reclaim Canadian art and culture. Their exclusive designs are woven on beautiful, high-quality, eco-friendly fabric in Italy. They design, cut, and sew all their products in Gatineau, Quebec, with their amazing team.
Highlights:
00:01 Intro
03:38 Meet Trisha Pitura & Mélanie Bernard
04:49 MINI TIPI origin
08:03 MINI TIPI evolution
10:08 Exclusivity & symbolism
13:01 From design to fabric
13:51 Funding
16:14 Biggest challenges
21:56 Mixing business & friendship
25:29 Hiring
28:55 Impact
32:02 What they know now
34:01 What’s next
Links:
MINI TIPI
www.linkedin.com/company/mini-tipi
Tiktok: @minitipi.ca
Instagram: @mini.tipi
To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://theroadtoseven.com
Stay Connected
Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!
Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.
I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review.” I’d love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below!
Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins