Developing A Fashion + Lifestyle Biz Partnership with Trisha Pitura and Mélanie Bernard

The Road to Seven

“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.minitipi.ca

www.linkedin.com/company/mini-tipi

www.facebook.com/minitipi

Tiktok: @minitipi.ca

Instagram: @mini.tipi

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://theroadtoseven.com

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