Calivika Shareholder Highlight

Q&A with Nikki Corbett of Sew Yup’ik

Storyknife, November/December 2023 edition

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND SEW YUP’IK.

Waqaa! When I initially started Sew Yup’ik in 2015, I was just making qaspeqs, bags, and other miscellaneous handmade items to sell. But then I taught my first qaspeq class in the fall of 2015 and I was hooked. I didn’t grow up sewing and it was something I always wanted to do. I was thankful for my sister/cousin/auntie who taught me to make my first qaspeq when I was in elementary school.

I started Sew Yup’ik on the countertop in my kitchen and have expanded since then. My passion is teaching qaspeq workshops and other sewing workshops because I love to share. As a Yup’ik, it is a part of who I am to share and not be stingy of the knowledge that I have learned along the way. Quyana!

WHERE CAN OUR READERS GO TO PURCHASE YOUR PRODUCTS?

If I have products available, I share them on my Sew Yup’ik Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or TikTok. For information about qaspeq workshops I can be reached at sewyupik@gmail.com. I have also started a new podcast, All Things Sew Yup’ik which can be found on Spotify and Apple Music.

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS YOU BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUSINESS?

My perseverance to continue with my business helped me to keep pushing forward. Getting out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there was important for me and my business to expand and travel to places I have never been before. I have really been lucky to have a supportive husband and family who allow me to travel and teach classes around the state. It’s hard running a business, and hard trying to run a successful business. I wear all the hats in my business, and sometimes I have difficulties taking the hats off to spend time with my family. I had to separate my business from my home life to find a balance that was healthy for everyone. But I think the force behind all of my successes was just my capabilities to keep going and to never give up on myself. I am fully confident in myself and that took some time to find and discover but I am thankful that I did.

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