Ujarak Appadoo has been sewing since her childhood, but did not begin her own business, Amautiga, until the fall of 2016 following the birth of her first child. After creating her own amaaruti, Aujaq amaut and ukiuq amaut garments and carriers, she realized that she could also begin to create for other mothers.
“I wore [my panik] exclusively in my amaaruti for the first two months,” she says of the initial inspiration for beginning Amuatiga, “I was complimented on the amaaruti and realized that other moms could benefit from the amazing carrier. I could contribute in a small way and bring joy to other moms by giving them a garment they could carry their little ones in.” [1]
Appadoo designs or alters many of her own patterns, but much of what she sews, such as the amauti pattern, has been passed down through generations. Originally from Arviat, NU, but now based in Montreal, QC, she sources her materials either from her hometown or from fabric stores in the south.
Although she initially sold her work through Etsy, Facebook or Instagram, in 2021 she launched a website for Amautiga and took on another seamstress, Gabai Kaludjuak, to help produce more pieces. What initially began as a custom, sew-to-order business has now shifted to a series of monthly collection drops, each with a different inspiration or theme running throughout.
“I’m still learning, I don’t fancy myself as an expert,” she says, “But saying that doesn’t diminish my time and the skills that I put into my pieces. I’m a mom of two and recognize that time is precious. Patience is a huge part of my work.” [2]
This
Profile was made possible through support from RBC Emerging Artists.