Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Nov 19/01) - After a year-long shutdown, a Fort Providence company has re-emerged with new ideas and an improved product.

"Everyone loved the product but it was expensive," said Dene Fur Clouds Ltd.'s manager, Judy Magrum. "We introduced machine knitting where we could have more control over size and cost."

Emily Squirrel knits mittens out of fur on a knitting machine. The company she works for, Dene Fur Clouds, is located in Fort Providence, NWT. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

Dene Fur Clouds has a show room filled with soft and luxurious mittens, sweaters, earmuffs and scarves. The products are made by cutting fur pelts into thin strips and then knitting the "twine" into clothing and accessories. The finished garments feel like soft, cuddly clouds.

The fur fashion business was formed as a joint venture between Fort Providence Deh Gah Gotie Betterment Corporation, designer Paula Lischman and the NWT Development Corporation in 1997. In March 2000 the business shut down for a complete year after running out of money. It was re-awakened with the help of the NWT Development Corporation in April 2001.

Lischman was one of the first Canadian designers to knit fur into garments. She supplied the fur-knitting idea. The technique she had patented expired about a year ago.

"We took it the next step on our own," said Magrum.

The introduction of the knitting machines is making a difference to the bottom line. "It is not quite as plush but it is sturdier and more affordable," said Magrum.

Before re-opening the company searched out feedback from industry and the public about how to make the product better. It was market-tested in the NWT, Alberta, Toronto and the United Kingdom. "Market testing said people liked the design," she said.

Most of the soft clouds made in the knitting factory are for women. One of the fabrics is sheared beaver. The two colour choices are natural beaver and dyed black. Some of the items have lynx- or fox-fur trim. The five full-time and five part-time Dene employees who make the items are also responsible for the original designs. The knitting, blocking and spinning is done in the bright factory, a room filled with knitting machines and busy people. The cutting is done at a contractor's home.

Full-time employees make between $8 and $12 an hour and part-timers are paid between $24 and $30 per piece. "Designs are a group effort between the women who work here and D'arcy helps out too," said Magrum referring to Fort Simpson designer D'arcy Moses.

"We are still working at perfecting a cardigan, short pullover, long pullover and a basic sweater with a cowl neckline," she said. They also made men's hats out of rabbit and sheared beaver. Magrum said the company isn't making money yet and is still trying to develop the market. During the Christmas season Fur Clouds will participate in a Yellowknife retail store with Fort Simpson's Nats'enelu, which creates fashions based on Dene designs.