Designer Candace Halcro is a Plains Cree/Métis from Saskatchewan, Canada. With her company BrownBeaded, she has been catching the eye of fashion lovers worldwide with her fashion-forward one-of-a-kind beaded pieces, such as her ultra-cool beaded sunglasses.But the international attention didn't happen overnight.
In her hometown region, beadwork and other local Indigenous traditions are a central aspect of the visual culture.
She began learned beading, leatherwork, and other American Indian arts back in 2001. This background, along with her interest in trends of modern fashion lead her to start creating her own blend of traditional work mixed with modern stylings.
Her first experimentation with beading modern accessories were with Vans canvas sneakers. Her beaded shoes turned the heads of her peers as well as writers and others in the fashion and art world. She then began concentrating on accessories such as sunglasses. BrownBeaded was creating a buzz for her uniqueness, but this attention quickly spread internationally and BrownBeaded now has an international fashion audience.
A strong bond was made with fashion lovers in Europe, with a special connection to France and the UK. “The people of France have especially taken a noticeable interest in my stuff, and its cool because I have been fascinated by the beauty of Europe and France and many other cultures since I was a little girl” says Halcro.
Her talent for being on the forefront of emerging trends has also added to her business success. Mixing trending talents with innovative ideas, Halcro is now also experimenting with clothing design and handbags promoted through her main label, Candace Halcro Designs. As she grows as a designer, gaining recognition from peers and people involved in the global fashion world, she remains humble and focused on her work, with her feet firmly on the ground and appreciating every moment.
After Halcro and her business partner made agreements to have her items sold in Canadian, American, and French boutiques, she was contacted by the editor of the magazine French Elle. The editor ordered a pair of beaded sneakers, and a pair of her BrownBeaded Sunglasses which were featured in the June, 2012 issue of French Elle magazine. Shortly after, other European publications, fashion bloggers, and boutiques from all over the world have been contacting Halcro. For a small city girl from Canada, this career path is virtually unheard of, but as things pick up, Halcro is more inspired with many new and amazing ideas that she is ready to develop.To shop Candace Halcro shades, click here. To contact Halcro for product info and purchasing, wholesale info, interviews, press inquiries, and any other comments or questions please visit: www.brownbeaded.net or follow her on Twitter @brownbeaded, or facebook.com/CandaceHalcroDesigns