Meet Takara Beatheagudell of TAKARA in Oak Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Takara Beatheagudell.

Takara, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
WoW! I’ve designing for 40 years … Condensing is required. My career started in California, making earrings and selling them at craft shows in the parks. I quickly realized that I could empower myself to fulfill a dream … MASS PRODUCTION. I went for a cold call of artist and designers pitching their ware to Bullock’s Dept. Stores. I was immediately picked as a featured artist.

As the years passed, I designed for most of the top department stores, galleries, local shops in Pasadena. Being the funky fly person, I was as a younger creative, I started making clothing to represent my jewelry in a cohesive way. Soon, I was being followed down the street … Excuse Me, where did you get THAT skirt? The rest is her story … I started cutting fabric on my king size bed and my TAKARA sense of style was born. There’s a video on YouTube (you’ll love it.)

Anyhow – My story is quirky and fun! Would love to talk to ya!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth as Skippy … More like the crunchy. I was a single mother living in LALA land with my daughter Miya (now 43 and getting married at the Art Institute this Mother’s Day) Yep … I’m terribly excited!!!! Note the exclamation points!!!
Back to the O&C … They both were a part of our daily life, but I kept the dream alive by working and creating art during the evenings and selling on the weekends. I raised my daughter in a lovely carriage house with glass doors.

Money was tight, so I decided to create using materials that could stretch as long as Gumby’s arms. That when I discovered you could buy sea shells by the POUND! It was smooth sailing from there … I was able to buy a strawberry box cake for Miya’s birthday and a Michael Jackson zipper outfit for her birthday party.

Fast Track … I’ve had an amazing career and working on my THIRD act. Turning 60 this year and going strong. Will presents at Chicago One of a Kind show this April.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about TAKARA – what should we know?
I’m a self-taught designer, therefore I break most of the rules … didn’t have an instructor to tell me NO! TAKARA has a strong following and I’m pretty proud of that accomplishment. We design women’s clothing and accessories for the unapologetic fashion forward woman. I often walk in a room and folks literally stare at me … well, I’m bald and wear Ruby Woo lips.

I design and Maria creates the patterns and manufacturing of the ideas that I’ve either dreamed of or was inspired from a photograph. I specialize in the … Let’s just push that a little further. I’m known for … How do want to feel when you walk into the room.

Honestly, I’m most proud that I’m still a contender in the sea of youthful designers. As Whoopi said in the color Purple … I’m STILL here.

what sets me apart … I never wanted to be a runway designer, I was mostly inspired by Eileen Fisher … Just plain ole’ good looking fabulous clothing. Love it when customers query one another … I that TAKARA you’re wearing?

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Biggest cheerleader … Miya. She was there from the very beginning, When I was making tops from bedsheets from the rummage shops. She’s been a constant cheerleader, except when I say NO to taking samples from production.

My good buddy Claire Requa (the dye Jamaican queen) now living in Denmark. We held one another up and survived on tacos in Pasadena, CA. We both are still at it with all the body pains, marriage, divorce and grown children.

Once I started meeting professional seamstresses, it changed the dynamics of the clothing and my ideas were easily executed. The pattern makers and seamstresses pushed the design aspect and quality of the product forward. Today, we continue to receive compliments on the quality of our clothing.

Pricing:

• Fleece Couture Collection: Fleece collection from recycled water bottles: 88. to 348.
• Linen Collections: 118. – 338.
• Cottons and other collections vary

Contact Info:

• Address: TAKARA
  140 Harrison St.
  Oak Park, IL 60304
• Website: ShopTakara.com or Takaradesigns.com
• Phone: 708.435.9119
• Email: shoptakara@gmail.com
• Instagram: shoptakara
• Facebook: Takara Beathea-Gudell
• Twitter: Takara Designs
• Yelp: Takara. Designs

Image Credit:
credit: Takara Beathea-Gudell

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