Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon White Hat
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started beading as a teenager, focusing on Native American Peyote Stitch style. I created earrings, dreamcatchers, and lanyards. As I’ve gotten older, arthritis has made the intricate process of Peyote Stitch—adding one bead at a time—more challenging. A single dreamcatcher takes about a week to complete. Despite this, finishing a piece remains incredibly fulfilling. Over the years, my designs have evolved from simple, two-tone patterns to intricate creations featuring feathers and even words. While I mainly made items for family and friends, I was never focused on selling my work online or marketing myself.
As arthritis slowed my beading, I decided to revisit sewing. I started with scrunchies, then moved on to ribbon skirts, and then learned to make purses—which I absolutely fell in love with! I design the purses with ribbons, which was popular among Woodland tribes in the Great Lakes region, the French brought over satin ribbons and traded them with the tribes in that area. The ribbons made their way across the northern states and into the Plains. Today, ribbons are still worn to represent individuality, strength, and pride in Indigenous identity.
Along the way, I began designing my own fabrics, which are now available for purchase on Spoonflower, a platform where people can buy fabric by the yard, created by independent designers like me. This journey led me to designing t-shirts. It deeply saddens me that as the original inhabitants of this land, we can’t find t-shirts representing our tribes in stores like Walmart. This inspired me to create designs that celebrate our heritage and pride. I now bring a heat press, blank t-shirts, and t-shirt transfer designs to powwows and local events, where I create custom t-shirts on-site for customers.
Recently, I established my business as an LLC—Shannon White Hat Boutique. You can find my work and learn more at www.shannonwhitehat.com.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My biggest challenge has been navigating social media and creating content. I’m not great at keeping up with comments on my personal Facebook, so I decided to create a dedicated Facebook Page for my boutique. I’ve been following the tips and guidance provided by Meta Business, and it has helped a lot.
I’ve also started connecting with the local community here in Lawrence by attending different entrepreneur meetings. It’s amazing to see a community filled with people who have the biggest hearts and are genuinely invested in helping each other succeed. Through one of these groups, I was lucky enough to receive support from a young intern who’s been assisting me with content creation and video production. I have a tendency to overthink and push myself to exceed expectations, so I found myself overcomplicating the video content process. With her help, I’m learning to simplify and bring my ideas to life more effectively!
We’ve been impressed with Shannon White Hat Boutique, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I offer customized apparel, ribbon work purses and clothing, as well as various Native American-inspired products. I take great pride in my attention to detail and my dedication to providing exceptional customer care.
One of the aspects of my brand I’m most proud of is our logo. Though simple—a red rose with a teepee on top—it carries profound meaning. Each Native American tribe is a sovereign entity with its own governing system, and with that we each have our own tribal flag. My husband and I are members of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. On the Rosebud flag, 20 red roses with white teepees represent the different communities within the reservation. My husband is from the Rosebud Community, while my mother was from the Grass Mountain Community.
I also want to highlight the rich history of Haskell Indian Nations University here in Lawrence, KS. This is a four-year university that welcomes students from across the United States, representing a wide variety of tribes. Powwows in this area are open to the public, and we warmly invite everyone to come experience and learn about our culture—don’t hesitate to ask questions. In the past, our people were forbidden from dancing and speaking our languages, but our resilience has carried us through. We are still here, proudly celebrating and sharing our heritage with the world. If you decide to attend one of our powwows, stop by my booth, Shannon White Hat Boutique, and say “Hi”—I would love to meet you. Colder weather, the powwows are indoors in the sports complex, but if the powwow is held outdoors, be sure to bring a lawn chair so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the event. You’ll also find a variety of vendors offering food, arts, crafts, and informational booths to explore.
On my Facebook page, I share upcoming events where my booth will be set up. Shannon White Hat Boutique. Be sure to like and follow.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I absolutely love this question!! My favorite childhood memory, without a doubt is swimming in the creek with my parents. I still remember the feel of the warm muddy water. I can never remember the car ride there or home, but I remember exactly how that warm water felt, just amazing and comforting.
Pricing:
- S-XL T-Shirts – $25
- XXL+ T-Shirts – $2 Extra
- “Hands Off HASKELL” T-Shirt – $20. Half of the proceeds ($10) will be donated to The Haskell Foundation to provide support for the one-third of staff impacted by recent federal layoffs. These layoffs occurred because Haskell is funded through the federal government as part of the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).
- Purses range from $50 – $165
- Scrunchies $5 each or 5 for $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shannonwhitehat.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18aTWjJd7E/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/shannonwhitehat
