VancouverSA国际影视传媒檚 Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW) was an eye-opening experience for the NWT designers in attendance and the ticket-holders who filed into the host Queen Elizabeth Theatre to see their work, according YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Cheryl Fennell.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 absolutely amazing,SA国际影视传媒� the M茅tis designer said from Vancouver. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e never been part of anything this big.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淢y stuff has been really well received as well, and I think that, in a way, itSA国际影视传媒檚 because weSA国际影视传媒檙e from the North and we use different materials than the people here,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淭hey havenSA国际影视传媒檛 seen anything like this.SA国际影视传媒�
VIFW ran from Nov. 20 to 23. Fennell was part of a cohort of nine NWT designers attending the event with NWT Arts, a division of the territorial government that supports the arts industry.
On Nov. 21, she had 15 looks showcased on the runway. The looks were linked by the theme SA国际影视传媒渄rums in my heart,SA国际影视传媒� and each model wore a small drum necklace in keeping with the theme. Her pieces on display included pants, vests, dresses, skirts, jewellery, and perhaps most notably, a sealskin puffer jacket that SA国际影视传媒渆verybody was going crazy for.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淗ow many people have ever seen a seal puffer jacket?SA国际影视传媒� Fennell said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really cool.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淧eople are just going crazy over my stuff, and I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think ISA国际影视传媒檓 alone in that, theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing the same for the others,SA国际影视传媒� she added. SA国际影视传媒淧eople are so supportive.SA国际影视传媒�
Andrea Fowler, a Yellowknives Dene First Nation designer who travelled to Vancouver to sell her jewellery at the VIFW marketplace, offered a similar account of things.
It was FowlerSA国际影视传媒檚 first show outside the NWT, and she was moved by the support she received from attendees and other designers alike.
SA国际影视传媒淎 real big highlight for me was designer Yolanda [Skelton] bought some of my earrings as gifts for her models,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been getting a lot of positive feedback and encouragement.SA国际影视传媒�
Fowler had the chance to meet many other Indigenous designers and celebrities at VIFW. Many quickly became sources of inspiration and some even became friends.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 inspired to create more and ISA国际影视传媒檝e really been in awe with all the Indigenous fashion,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e become friends with some of the other NWT artists as well. They have more experience than I do, so I can learn from them and now I have them as mentors.SA国际影视传媒�
Meeting Indigenous celebrities like Tantoo Cardinal and hoop-dancing social media star James Jones, she added, was also SA国际影视传媒渟o great.SA国际影视传媒�
Fennell was no less impressed by the talent she encountered in Vancouver.
SA国际影视传媒淚 would say every single look that ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen the last three evenings in the show is amazing,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
As the VIFW wrapped up, both designers said they hope their attendance will lead to increased business, having met many potential customers over the course of the week.
Both are also already plotting their next move.
Fennell may show her designs at other shows in the near future, but said she is SA国际影视传媒渞eally, really intrigued by artSA国际影视传媒� and may focus some of her efforts on installation art for the time being.
Fowler, on the other hand, said she is excited to attend other big shows in the future, and that she plans to apply to join NWT Arts at the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival in Toronto in late May.
SheSA国际影视传媒檒l also be applying to return to VIFW next year.
SA国际影视传媒淚 wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 mind going to the Toronto one, and they have a few other ones that are gonna be coming up,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o definitely, ISA国际影视传媒檒l put my name in for those.SA国际影视传媒�
