Our Story
OUR STORY: TRISH, INDIA & ALCHEMY
I feel part Indian – I am so connected to that wonderful country that, after more than 20 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 travellers that migrated with the seasons up and down the length of India, seeking friendship and spiritual connection. Many of us built businesses out of our love for travel and adventure.
How did the business emerge? From age 17, my summers back in North America were spent journeying to festivals, and managing a beloved vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver (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 - a pull toward deeper self-exploration.
It didn’t take long before I fell in love with India’s textiles: shimmering silks, vibrant prints, intricate patterns, and one-of-a-kind saris. It was a real feast for the senses. I started by purchasing 20 silk-cotton sari dresses from a man who was to become one of my dearest friends – truly family now. The next season, I bought 200 sari dresses, and they sold very quickly. By the third year, I had dozens of styles and a full-blown collection, expanding into cottons and rayons alongside my upcycled sari pieces. Fashion became my passion, and India became my second home.
Life changed in 1997, when Alchemy transitioned into a primarily a wholesale company. That meant less time in India, and more time travelling across Canada for seasonal trade shows. But it was also the period when I dove deeper into the healing arts and yoga, taking workshops and trainings around the world. Naturally, I found a way to merge my two inspirations - fashion and yoga - by participating, both as an exhibitor and a student, at several yoga conferences across North America. My clothing has always resonated with the yoga community: ethically and sustainably produced, crafted with dedication and love, and infused with the energy of Mother India.
In 2003 Alchemy settled on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, in a hip little oasis called Roberts Creek. Not long after, I met my husband Brett, and together we welcomed our beautiful son named Julian. We are blessed with an amazing beach, creek and rainforest outside our front door, with both the Alchemy warehouse and a yoga studio on our incredible ocean-view property.
Alchemy has evolved and thrived because of my ever-deepening relationships with the people and soul of India. Business in India is not strictly transactional; it is an art, a dance of communication. From endless chais and head-wiggles to late-night phone calls and epic emails, everything is rooted as much in trust and friendship as in economics. It requires infinite patience, and it always it involves the heart.
Namaste
Trish Hinders, owner/designer of Alchemy Fashions