Once Upon a Onesie

Clark, a business major who worked as a professional photographer for 20 years, spent time in Africa in the Peace Corps in the ’90s. Her name in Sesotho translates to “Mother of Snow.” Some years after her return, a group of working moms launched a ski weekend to British Columbia, Canada. After a few years of making the annual trip, one of the women contracted brain cancer with a terminal prognosis. The next year, she asked everyone to show up in a one-piece. Knowing it could be their last year together on the mountain, all the women showed up in suits from the ’80s. Clark quickly discovered she had a passion for vintage ski suits, ultimately amassing a collection to create the film Downhill to raise money for brain cancer research.

When she decided to move ahead into what would become onesie fame, Clark’s business background came roaring to the forefront. She cold-called the founder of Sherpa Adventure Gear in Seattle and asked him if they could collaborate on her vision. “He took a big risk on me,” she said. “I did not have experience in the industry or big backing. But he believed in my vision and the impact I hoped to make through the brand.”

Five years later, Olympic gold medalists wear TaraShakti and people of all ages are flocking to the brand. In the Sherpa language, “Tara” means star and “Shakti” means power. Tara Brown Clark, Mother of Snow, says she believes every person carries a unique brilliance, and TaraShakti’s mission is to amplify their shine, one onesie at a time.