Ss River Designs

Christine is a fashion entrepreneur, designer and artisan from the French Métis community of St. Louis, Saskatchewan, Canada. Christine started SS River Designs as a way to share her art-to-wear piece. Christine specializes in Métis beadwork which is a beautiful scrolling flower beadwork pattern. She personally hand beads an original art-to-wear design, then using innovative technology to have the beadwork digitally printed onto fabric, sewn into contemporary, wearable pieces, to make these beadwork-inspired garments more widely available to all people. SS River is named after the South Saskatchewan River where Christine lives. She developed her artistic and design skills through a combination of self-teaching, various courses and working with other designers and artisans. “I have been beading and sewing since I was very young. I am drawn to beadwork and compelled to keep this tradition alive” Christine says. French and michif culture have been her inspiration. SS River Designs is based on a social enterprise, Christine works to align her business with Métis values of using available resources to the best of her ability, supporting other artisans, models and creative contractors wherever possible. She carefully selects fabrics and suppliers and produces in small quantities.