I feel part Indian – I am so connected to that wonderful country that, after 16 years, feels so “normal” to me now. It's funny to think that, in traveling to such a distant “foreign” land, one could find a sense of belonging and community – but that's what happened! There were meditation retreats in the mountains, all-night beach parties in the south, yoga & massage trainings in the heartland, and of course Alchemy in the desert! I was a part of a tribe of travelers that migrated with the seasons up and down the west coast of India, seeking friendship, spiritual connection & fun.

How did the business emerge? From age 17, my summers back in North America were spent journeying to festivals and Grateful Dead concerts, and managing a popular vegetarian restaurant (the Naam). After graduating from the University of British Columbia with an Asian Studies degree (focusing on Asian religion, philosophy and art), I set off on my first trip to India. It was a calling - I just knew I had to go there, and embark on a path of deeper self-exploration. It did not take long before I became enamored by the amazing fabrics that India had to offer. It was a real feast for the senses. Especially magnetic still are the shimmering silks (silk reflects light better than any other fabric and is a great form of color therapy) and hand-embroidered one-of-a-kind saris. I started by purchasing 20 silk-cotton sari dresses (this type of sari has since become extinct) from a man who was to become one of my dearest friends – really we are now family. He still produces some of Alchemy’s silk sari line. The second season back in India, I increased my purchase to 200 sari dresses. By the third year it was a full-blown line that now included satin sari and cotton items. I pursued my fashion career with a passion.

Life changed in 1997, when Alchemy shifted to primarily a wholesale company. This meant less time traveling in India, and more time on the road back home, with seasonal cross-Canada trade shows. But this is also the point in my life where I dove deeper into the healing arts & yoga. After years of taking workshops & trainings all over the world, I have found a way to combine my clothing enterprise with yoga - by participating, both as an exhibitor and as a student, at several yoga conferences across North America. In fact, Alchemy Fashions have a special appeal to the yoga community, as they radiate with the energy of mystical mother India.

In 2003 Alchemy settled on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, in a hip little oasis called Roberts Creek. Not long after that I met my husband Brett and had a son name Julian. We have an amazing little beach outside our front door, the Alchemy warehouse in our basement, and a yoga studio above our garage. I am now teaching yoga out of my own sacred space, Shine Yoga Studio – what a blessing!

I take pride in this business that has evolved because of my ever-deepening relationships with the people and soul of India. Business in India is not cut-and-dry: is an art, a dance of communication (from endless chais and head-wiggles, to late-night phone calls and epic emails), rooted as much in trust and friendship as in economics. It requires infinite patience; it involves the heart.

Namaste

Trish / Alchemy