Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheila Tucker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sheila , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

My first buyer was former Miss Phoenix Central Lena Spotleson.

I showcased my first Collection at Tempe Fashion Week in 2021.

The next day, she reached out to me about a look.

I recall meeting her in person for the first fitting, and being taken aback with her beauty and her warm personality. She is such an astounding lady!

It was my first Official Sale from a Collection and it is still always a huge feeling of gratefulness when a buyer approaches me to aquire a piece of my work.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Couture Fashion Designer, I would best describe my fashion aesthetic as Vintage.

I have always loved the 1930’s era and much of my inspiration is derived from that era specifically.

As a Couture Designer, my looks are often one of a kind and each look is beaded by hand either on my Tambour table or as applique individually.
I have always loved beading and sewing because I grew up in a family of Beaders and Garment makers.

I grew up on Yellowquill Reservation within the Treaty 4 Territory of Saskatchewan Canada. My first language is Nakwe which a dialect in Ojibwe.

I moved with my children to Arizona in 2015 and it has been home ever since.

My love for Fashion began at an early age. As a young girl, I would often alter my own clothes such as embellishing Denim Jeans and creating my own look and style. It was not uncommon for me to dress my cousins during our highschool years. They were my first models so to speak so I am always thankful to them for allowing me to express my flare for fashion through their own wardrobes.

Each Collection from my Brand has a story behind it.

My most prideful Collection is my most recent which is inspired by my son Zachary Whitehead. He is a Commercial Fisherman in the Bering Sea Alaska. The stories he brings home to our dinner table is just so astonishing and the inspiration for this collection came easily. He describes his life on the boat as; a floating world and that is where my title was born.

The Floating World Bering Sea Collection.

It is a tribute to not just my son but to all the brave courageous men and women that work on the Bering Sea.

This collection features a creation of the life of a Bering Sea Commercial Fisherman/Fisherwomen.

I recently travelled to Paris with twin models from Sapulpa OK for a photoshoot to campaign my next showcase at Paris Fashion Week.

There will also be another Billboard at NY Times Square.

Its a thrill to watch my Brand grow.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Building a Brand in Fashion comes with many challenges.

My vision has always been to create Couture attire for anyone with a love for collecting fashion.

It is a tough industry to break through.

For example; when I first decided to launch my Brand, I reached out to the Indigenous platforms and applied or requested to apply for showcasing. But no doors would open and it was then that I made my decision that my path was my own path.

Ultimately, I was offered to showcase at Paris Fasion Week in 2021. My work has since been featured and continues to be featured in several Fashion Editorials such as FabUK, Harpers Bazaar UK, Elle Italia, and Ellas Spain to name a few.

My target market are luxury fashion collectors. Reaching that market is a process but it is rewarding to see that evolving into a reality. Especially when I get photos of my buyers wearing my pieces to Gala’s and private events. I have learned to love that my work is quiet luxury.

Have you ever had to pivot?

It was during the Covid pandemic that I was forced to being at home.

It was then that I made the decision to launch my Brand.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sheilatuckerofficial
• Facebook: @sheilalynntucker
• Twitter: @sheilatucker306

Image Credits
Mariana Cattoir, Cattoir Productions, Paris France IG @marianacattoir Creations by Fritz Photography, Phoenix Arizona IG@Creationsby_fritzphotography Capture N Shoot Photography, Phoenix Arizona IG@CNSphotography