Meet the Maker

Thank you so much for dropping by, please let me introduce myself!

I'm Sydelle, my given Indian name is Ipnaamawax, and I am the maker here at Kanaine. I come from the people of the Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Yakama Nations of Oregon and Washington and am Korean-American on my father's side. I am a full-time mom of 3 lovely girls and recently obtained my PhD in Public Health. I have an MPH in Public Health as well as two B.S. degrees in Public Health and Biocultural Anthropology. I have worked for a small corporate contractor to the Department of Energy at Hanford Nuclear Reservation where I started my family and learned that I had a passion for bridging our Tribal communities with authentic representation and honest meaningful consultation.

When I'm not up late making fine goods and apparel, I am working on research projects and academic writing, and working with an inter-Tribal non-profit organization called Pandion Institute; check us out on socials! I cherish my research and public health roles and am proud that I get to advocate for better health outcomes for our native communities.

At Kanaine, I strive to create designs that cross the line between the rugged western influences I grew up with in rural eastern Oregon and the street styles I am drawn to in my personal wardrobe. I have always appreciated fashion influences of all kids and exploring my own style journey. Each piece offered through Kanaine is sourced, cut, crafted, packaged and shipped by me in my home studio here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. I make things I want to wear and you will see that in many of my product photos (maker, mom, model, photographer, the list goes on).

I love creating, collaborating, and every part of making handcrafted goods. I grew up in a home on the reservation running a family construction business. I learned so much about managing relations, keeping books, planning ahead for material, and just plain constructing a whole house from the ground up since I was a little girl. When it came time to explore building smaller fashion items, I had the tools and only needed to execute. I was blown away with the interest in my pieces and still am to this day.

This business has given me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, experience new and exciting places, give my brain a creative outlet, and mainly, it has allowed me the flexibility to schedule around my educational, professional, extracurricular, and family pursuits. 

Thank you for being here. Drop a line anytime and follow me on socials (@Kanaine_shop) to see works-in-progress and customs that might never make it to the website.

Sincerely,

Sydelle