When a pregnant Sheri Dusseault was fired from her job over 20 years ago, she had no idea what a blessing it was.
There she was, six months pregnant, feeling down and out and wondering how she was going to make a living, when she got the idea to make and sell a bit of handmade jewelry.
It worked.
“Right away I was making way more money than I ever did and having way more fun,” she said.
She was at a craft fair selling ceramic jewelry when she got talking to another vendor who was using ceramic paints on clothing. Another idea grabbed hold of her. She took the money she made at the fair and headed for Wal Mart to buy some oversized T-shirts (this was back in the ‘80s when women loved big shirts tied up on the side.) She made six that night using bright colours, flowery patterns and abstract designs, and the next day they were sold within an hour.
Dusseault started designing her own clothing and was soon approached by sales representatives who took her products across Canada. It was all very exciting, she said, she was traveling a lot and busy designing and selling her clothing, everything seemed to be going great, except one thing. She now had two young children, and she hardly ever got to see them.
“So I threw up my hands in despair one day at the lifestyle and decided I’m going back to the Island and opening a store.”
Dusseault spent her teenage years in the Cowichan Valley and wanted her children to have a similar small town life and not be raised by nannies, she said.
So she went back to the drawing board and opened a small store called Degage Fashions in Chemainus; Degage is an 18th century word for a woman who is comfortable with her beauty.
For the first few years, Dusseault sewed every single stitch and waited on every customer. She specialized in classic designs using high quality fabrics (as many as she could from Canada) and would also do custom designing. She would close her store when she had to pick her kids up from school and open it back up when they returned.
That was 21 years ago.
Now the store in Chemainus is twice the size and she has opened a factory in the town with industrial machines and professional seamstresses.
Dusseault said she has always loved Qualicum Beach, and when one of her star employees, Cindy DeVries, mentioned her husband was being transferred there and she’d be moving, the two saw an opportunity. The store was opened in June of this year and they gained employee Bea Spilloway.
Dusseault said she and her staff do a lot of custom work these days where ladies choose their style and fabric, or even revive an older, loved garment — or recreate it. Ladies appreciate these custom outfits when very often they may be one size on the top and another size on the bottom, and usually end up compromising unhappily, she said. Women also like original garments and are thrilled to have clothes designed and made in Canada, she said.
The clothes are excellent for traveling, Dusseault said, as they don’t wrinkle, and the ageless designs and quality materials used allow them to be worn for years.
Dusseault said a grand opening in June saw over 200 people who were all very warm, welcoming and encouraging.
Degage Fashions is located at 172 2nd Ave. W. in Qualicum Beach. The store is open 9:30 to 5 Monday through Saturday and 11-4 on Sundays. For more information call 250-594-2290.
