Calgary store ‘Madame Premier’ goes on sale after Danielle Smith win
Posted Oct 13, 2022 7:45 pm.
Last Updated Oct 14, 2022 6:46 am.
The owner of Calgary’s Madame Premier is looking to sell the store after the new Premier in Alberta has brought criticisms to the business.
Since launching in 2019, Madame Premier has branded itself as one of Calgary’s go-to spots for feminist and political apparel. Now the owner and founder of the store says it’s time to make a change.
“The political climate right now has just pushed me to make this decision,” said Sarah Elder-Chamanara, owner and founder of Madame Premier.
Elder-Chamanara’s call to sell the store comes after Danielle Smith was sworn-in as Alberta’s 19th premier, and the third woman to take the seat.
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She says the store’s name is generating some assumptive criticism.
“Any sign of support right now for a woman in politics is being considered tacit support of all women in politics. That’s not the case,” Elder-Chamanara said.
As a former staffer for the Liberal Party in British Columbia, Elder-Chamanara says she is familiar with traversing political landscapes. But with running the store, she finds it hard to disconnect.
“Everything that Madame Premier does and is, is very political. And I think that can be hard on anyone. And I mean, I’ve taken breaks from political life before. This is just different because it’s a business,” Elder-Chamanara said.
After operating Madame Premier out of her basement for two years, Elder-Chamanara opened the store in Calgary’s Inglewood neighbourhood in 2021. The business prides itself in selling ‘Gender neutral clothing for the entire political family’.
“I’m hoping to find someone to take this on who believes in gender equity and gender equality.”
The inside of Madame Premier where Sarah Elder-Chamanara sits with someone else in the Inglewood community in Calgary on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. (Tate Laycraft, CityNews photo)
