Hi, I am Samantha Giraud, I am the founder of XAMAS, the Figure Skating Active Wear Brand and owner of my couture brand “SAMANTHA GIRAUD”. As you might already know, I was a skater when I was little, and figure skating coach back in 1999.

XAMAS is a Brand of Dreams… everything started from a dream.

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“I believe our world will be a better place, if all kids will get an equal chance for the love and education that they deserve...”

This is the reason why I started XAMAS back in 2003…

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I came from a rather disadvantaged family. I inherited my sporting genes from my parents. I love sports! Figure skating, dancing and swimming truly engulfed my childhood! But unfortunately, figure skating was an expensive sport and for our family, it was a huge expense: skates, costumes, traveling costs, plus the time invested. Every time I went to a competition, I saw other skaters with beautiful dresses, make-up, and hairstyles. I truly hoped that I would have a unique competition dress one day.

The lucky thing was, my first coach did see the potential in me. She made me a dress and promoted me in the “Future Star” program, so that I can represent my skating rink. In exchange, I didn’t have to pay for my lessons.

I understood in my neighborhood there were many talented children, however they weren’t able to fulfill their dreams, for whatever reasons, mostly because of finances, family problems etc.…

I strongly believed I could represent my nation one day. But I was not destined for this position. I suffered a serious injury on my thigh in the past, which led to my doctor telling me I couldn’t compete for at least 2 years. I was 16 and 2 years without practicing meant my athletic life was over. I totally broke down in front of the doctor, and I couldn’t speak for months. I was riddled with depression till my second coach invited me to become a figure skating coach in the summer of 1999. That was how I ignited my passion for coaching. Coaching is the best job in the world! I loved sharing my knowledge, desire and passion with my students.

After I became a coach, I realized something was missing. My creativity was yearning inside of me due to the boring all-black costumes worn during practice. I wanted my students to show their personality in a more fun and affordable way. Because I am a fighter and an entrepreneur, in 2003, I started XAMAS.

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I wished I could do something for them or their children one day…

strengthen their minds, so that they have to believe they must catch their dreams no matter what.

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I want people believe in their will and believe in themselves. When I started XAMAS in 2003, I did not study design or business. I was a math student, not art. But making clothes is in my blood. I cut my brothers old clothes and turned them into a dress when I was 7. So I followed my heart, and listened to my students’ characters, personalities, and my own imagination to produce over 240 dresses in one month. In 2010, a month after the passing of my husband, I designed a whopping 247 dresses in just one week.

I have since gone on to design many more dresses, build a team who share the same passion and desire as me, as well as developing factories and supply routes.

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I am truly proud of how far I have come, but I am only just beginning. This is only the start. I believe I can go on to change thousands of children’s lives and provide them with the inspiration they need and deserve to pursue their dreams. I have always loved fashion and I will always remind people to be true to themselves, to be brave and to show their true colours.