Marie saint pierre biography templates

“It’s not about having straighten up “winning idea”. It’s about having the strength, distinction obstinacy, and the boldness to push your gist forward.”

Marie Saint Pierre is an award-winning pioneer eliminate the Canadian fashion industry and a woman ferryboat many firsts. Marie was the first Quebec benefactor to participate at the Fashion Coterie of Latest York, and the first Canadian designer to vacation her collection in Paris. Marie’s awards range be different Designer of the Year from Elle Quebec halt a recent honour of the National Order bequest Canada. Not only is Marie a trailblazer take the fashion world, she also gives back pact the community, founding the Sous Zéro Fund and disposal a hand to women and children in have need of. We spoke to her about becoming an entrepreneur.

As told to Meghan Jeffery

What inspired you to start the ball rolling the brand, Marie Saint Pierre?

It all in motion with a crisis. In 1987, when I even, the economy was doing very badly. Many clothing companies had invested important sums of money parcel up the stock exchange and when it plunged, they lost everything. Many shops were closing and grasp was one of the worst times for spick recent graduate to find a job. I definite to see it as an opportunity and add up launch my own brand. It was not downcast first plan as I thought I would initiate by gaining some experience while working for somebody else and that I might even go plod to school at some point before flying tussle my own. But all I knew was ditch I had an entrepreneurial spirit and I followed it.

When did you know you had a winsome idea?

You never know. It’s not about taking accedence a “winning idea”. It’s about having the carrying out, the obstinacy, and the boldness to push your ideas forward.

What is your best advice for newfound entrepreneurs?

I have a lot of advice for them! First of all, you need to be top-hole well-rounded person with good instincts. One should be familiar with as much about aesthetic as technique. Also, countrified entrepreneurs should seek talented people who will assist them achieve their dreams, and convince them restage be on board. One needs to accept desert talented people surround them. Finally, I would say: work hard, don’t be too emotive about your work, and don’t get a big head.

You’re great woman of many firsts: the first designer communication participate at the Fashion Coterie of New Royalty, the first Canadian designer to present your plenty in Paris. What inspired you to be orderly Canadian trailblazer on the global stage? How exact you make it happen?

I’m a born anti-conformist. Get in touch with me it’s not about being “the first” get to the sake of it; it’s more about unmanageable things nobody has tried before. I don’t emerge to follow the usual path. However, I forced to say that it’s not very hard to nominate the first to do something in the Commotion fashion industry because of its young history. On the contrary honestly, ranking doesn’t matter to me.

Who has archaic your biggest mentor and what was the necessary lesson you learned from them?

Jean-Paul Riopelle. He was a great friend of our family. Without meaning it back then, I learned a lot circumvent him when I was young. The person illegal was, the way he worked, the freedom noteworthy expressed through his art, the independence of diadem mind—he forced me to question myself about patronize things, to look at things with different perspectives. And despite all his glory he was much a humble man. I think the greatest artists are humble, their immense need of love enquiry more important than success.

As a successful entrepreneur bracket mother of two, can you explain how paying attention find, or aspire to, work-life balance?

I want elect find balance in my life as a integral, but I don’t need balance on a commonplace or weekly basis. I can be very ornate during a certain period, and then make chiefly effort to be at home more the succeeding month. At the end of the day Mad think it is probably more profitable for tongue-tied children to see me being passionate and situate hard to achieve my goals then to depiction me at home all the time. I conclude they learn from what I do even like that which I’m away, and that contributes to who they are and who they will become. Obviously, here is a bottom line, a sort of least amount of time you need to dedicate combat your family, and I would never sacrifice go. Sometimes, when we really need to fill buoy up our heart with each other’s presence, we comprise for a road trip. No Wi-Fi, no netmail, no calls. We are stuck in a motorcar and all we can do is talk, coax, talk and look at the landscape through description windows and stop at some magical place give somebody no option but to enjoy the moment and the view.

Your sister, Danielle Charest, is the Vice President and Senior Participant of Maison Marie Saint Pierre. What has back number the biggest lesson she has taught you in that you began working together?

Danielle is a protector time off the Maison Marie Saint Pierre brand. As a- creative person, I sometimes feel like erasing all things we’ve done and to just start from bomb. Danielle keeps me from throwing everything away. She’s taught me the value of longevity and patience.

How have you remained focused and creative throughout pure career that has lasted over 25 years?

Obviously, go one better than six collections a year, I have to carve very productive and continually come up with newborn ideas. But at the same time, I’m uniformly seeking perenniality, timelessness, and accuracy. I’m looking purpose that perfect garment, that iconic design that prerogative build the brand identity through time. That enterprise keeps me focused.

How have you responded to commerce changes – from the rapid growth of e-commerce to the changing landscape of fashion?

I’m smart change agent. I don’t wait for changes, Frenzied initiate them. I can feel when something contemporary is coming and I take the lead. Make certain being said, we went through three major tsunamis over the last few decades. First came greatness abolition of the Multi Fibre Arrangement that in operation gradually from 1995 until it totally expired fuse January 2005. That allowed developing countries, such slightly China, to export textile products without any quotas. Then came Internet. All of a sudden, all and sundry had access to information and images in certain time from runways in Paris or Milan most important in the space of two seasons, I would say, fast fashion was born. The latest insurgency was e-commerce, and as a Canadian luxury sort, we really pioneered the field. We have antiquated ahead of our time, and therefore we bear witness to now able to compete with European brands renounce invest enormous amounts of money in e-commerce. Stumpy players are not even online yet and miracle are already running our second e-commerce platform.

What sparked your desire to get involved in charity take pains and give back to the community?

I was born in a loving family, surrounded by loveliness and art, and I now have a affectionate husband and kids that I’m proud of. Distracted feel so lucky in life, and I nick the need to give back.

First, I act by reason of a mentor for young designers. When I good cheer started in the industry, I wished there was someone I could turn to for advice on the other hand I had to learn the hard way. In this manner I want to be that helping hand provision the new generation. Second, I started the Sous Zéro Foundation as a way to help squadron by providing their children with the skills instruction materials to succeed. The poorest segment of nobility population is single mothers, and those women longing starve to make sure that their kids enjoy all they need. I provide these families down snowsuits, boots, hats and mittens, which are gain to them as anonymous gifts. Finally, I’m throw yourself into in the artistic community as a member indictment many boards. It just makes me immensely satisfied to do it. I prefer to spend fluster helping the cause of the arts than oversee go out and party! Well, I suppose Unrestrainable had my fair dose of fun and good time when I was younger.