Hair Thread

Patrice said that she has actually
downsized in terms of her lifestyle,
even though she has become more
successful. She currently does not
own a car, property, or even her own
furniture. She rents a studio along the
water in the financial district of New
York. There, she lives and works
when not traveling to places like
California, Florida, Canada, Europe,
and South Africa for modeling
assignments. Patrice says that simple
things, like finding a beautiful rock on
the beach during a photo shoot, mean
more to her than costly material items.

Patrice does have a love of fine
clothing, however. She collects haute
couture, or one-of- a-kind pieces.
John Galliano, now in charge of the
Christian Dior line, is one of her
favorite designers. Patrice says that it
is still essential to have basics like
slacks, tank tops, and jackets for
everyday wear and a classic look.

Patrice works seven days a week on
various tasks, but she reserves two
weeks in December for her personal
vacation time. She usually spends the
first week catching up on things in the
city, and travels during the second
week. She enjoys going to places and
talking with the people who live there,
rather than visiting tourist attractions.
She prefers to get a sense for how the
locals live, not the tourists.

When asked what advice she would
give to entrepreneurs starting out,
Patrice responded, "Patience is
priority number one. You have to be
able to reign in your enthusiasm and
excitement at times. Being able to put
off an event for six months when
everyone else wants to do it right
away is key. Strength is important for
a business model."

Patrice also encourages putting one's
ego aside. "When you get out of your
own way, everything will happen and
come to you." Other key elements are
the ability to multi-task and having a
positive outlook. She says, "An
experience is not negative if you learn
from it. No matter how I leave things
at the end of the day, I will wake up
the next morning and I will be positive.
I don't have problems, I have a lot of
solutions."

In the future, Patrice would like to see
her products distributed to retail
stores. She is currently looking for the
right distribution method to put her
products out. She is also building her
other website,
www.paulapatrice.com, to post her
modeling portfolio.

of such beauty trends by creating a
multi-seasonal hair design tool. Used
by both amateurs and professionals, the
tool is the foundation for a whole new
way to style hair. Patrice is EnTrends'
second example of a fashion model that
has taken her love of design and
incorporated it, literally, into her own
business.

Frustrated by the current wave of hair
accessories modeled after flying
insects, and tired of traditional tools like
bobby pins and clips, Patrice set out to
design a more functional accessory that
would allow women to fasten their hair
in various styles. The resulting product,
launched in 2000, is called Hair
Thread. Available in various shades
and textures to blend with your hair,
Hair Thread is an elasticized strand
covered with polyester that can be tied
at one spot, woven into a design, and
then tied in another spot.

She Tied Fashion With Hair And Made A Successful Business!

By Brian O'Rourke

Summer is here, and
with it comes all the
hottest hairstyles.
Paula Patrice is an
example of an
entrepreneur who
has taken advantage

Patrice says her product evolved from
the observation that conventional
thread was not reliable enough for hair
designs. It tended to slip out or break.
Even worse, when plain thread was
used, often times a user had to cut out
locks of hair to remove it. Hair
Thread, which Patrice researched,
designed, and marketed in less than
three years, is strong enough to hold
complex styles and is flexible enough
to be removed without cutting or
damaging hair.

Hair Thread is also available in thirty-
yard spools for professionals and salons.
This allows professionals to create
complex designs for weddings, proms,
and other special events.

Patrice runs her company from New
York but has production facilities in her
home state of Connecticut. She has
automated the ordering process via the
Internet at www.hairthread.com, and
by phone, allowing her to continue
traveling for her modeling and acting
jobs.

Patrice has been modeling for several
years now. Born and raised in
Connecticut, she first began at the age
of twenty. She traveled to Europe in
search of new experiences. She met up
with some Swedish girls who were
going to Paris to become models.
Patrice walked into one of the largest
agencies in Paris and signed. She
remained there for three years, learning
both the French and fashion languages
before returning to New York to build
a solid career in modeling.

Since that time, Patrice has done print
ads for publications such as Vogue,
Woman's Day, and various clothing
catalogues. She has done television ads
for Max Factor, Gallo Wines, Sears,
Peninsula Hotels, and beginning in
September, she will be the new model
for Clinique's Happy fragrance. On the
runway, Patrice has worked for
designers such as Donna Karen and
Ralph Lauren.

Currently, Patrice's product line
includes three different weight threads
for designing. In addition, she recently
added a bridal line called "New and
Blue" that includes two spools of
thread. One matches the bride's dress
and the other is a shade of blue to fulfill
tradition. Patrice has even extended
her line to include a child's kit with a
safe, blunt-tipped weaving needle.