Rayana White, Market Artist and working mom
Month of Gratitude, Day 15: Rayana White, Market Artist and working mom
Rayana White moved to Seattle from Ketchikan, Alaska in 2012 to make a living off of her art. Her specialty was keeping fisherman’s feet warm inside the “Ketchican Sneaker” or rubber rain boots.
She founded her shop WithTheRain on the daystall tables of Pike Place Market and discovered not only an artists’ community to support her handmade craft, but a family to help she and her partner Patrick raise their new born daughter Charley.
Rayana brought Charley to work with her in the Market from the time she was 6 months old. “I had Market aunts, uncles and grandmas who all pitched in to help,” said Rayana. “She was raised by the Market.” Yet, once Charley started walking and talking it became increasingly more difficult to work and parent at the same time.
Soon after, Pike Market Child Care and Preschool called to say they had an opening for Charley and offered a sliding scale tuition to keep it affordable for Rayana and Patrick.
Six years later, Seattle fishermen and rain boot fashionistas alike rave when tucking their feet inside of one of her SLUGS boot inserts made from fleece or recycled sweaters. Not only does Rayana save our cold, wet feet around town, but she’s become an integral part of the fabric of the Market family.
THANK YOU to Rayana and all of the working moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas and kids of Pike Place who make the Market a family. Just another reason why we feel so #GratefulForPikePlace
What’s your #GratefulForPikePlace story?