For Ottawa designer Krista Norris, the sight of Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau giving two of her scarves to Sasha and Malia Obama was a surprise she wasn’t banking on.
Grégoire-Trudeau gave the gifts to the U.S. president’s daughters as part of the Trudeaus’ visit to the White House for a state dinner Thursday.
Norris has an online shop that supplies individuals and retailers with her designs, which are made in a factory in Toronto.
Norris said she was honoured Grégoire-Trudeau chose to use a Let Girls Learn event Thursday, a program championed by first lady Michelle Obama, as the venue for giving the gifts to the Obamas. Let Girls Learn is an initiative aiming to improve access to education for girls around the world.
“I really loved that it was a part of that conference,” said Norris.
Norris is excited to see what will come of the increased publicity. “I think since it was done authentically, you can’t really pay for this kind of exposure.
During her White House visit, Grégoire-Trudeau was wearing a dress made by another Canadian designer.