For fashion designers Victoria Kakuktinniq and Melissa Attagutsiak, sharing the thrill and success of a job well done with family and friends is at the heart of the Upingaksaaq Fashion Show the two teamed up to produce April 20 in Iqaluit.

Attagutsiak, like Kakuktinniq, brought a collection to Paris for the International Indigenous Fashion Week, held during Paris Fashion Week in early March.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 where the two met.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really love to see everybody come together to put on the show. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 so many things that go into it. I love to bring it back home to where I learned how to sew,SA国际影视传媒� said Attagutsiak, who now lives in Ottawa, at a pre-show news conference.

SA国际影视传媒淓xactly that. We wanted to bring back our Paris collection and to show our friends and family. And, it does help promote our business, of course,SA国际影视传媒� said Kakuktinniq, who moved to Iqaluit from her hometown of Rankin Inlet a few years ago.

And, as is the way, they brought along a crowd of Inuit co-creators to enjoy the limelight on the catwalk built in a transformed Koojesse Room in the capitalSA国际影视传媒檚 main hotel.

Other designers showcased included: InukChicSA国际影视传媒檚 Martha Kyak of Pond Inlet, SophiaSA国际影视传媒檚 OuterwearSA国际影视传媒檚 Chelsey St. John of Arviat, KayleighSA国际影视传媒檚 FashionsSA国际影视传媒� Kristy King and Chantel Kablutsiak, also of Arviat, and the Miqqut Project, a literacy and sewing program offered by Ilitaqsiniq Nunavut Literacy Council.

A portion of eveningSA国际影视传媒檚 proceeds are destined for the Qimaavik womenSA国际影视传媒檚 shelter in Iqaluit, and Kakuktinniq explains why.

SA国际影视传媒淔rom January to April, I was teaching a sewing program called the Miqqut Project, which is run by the literacy council. A lot of the ladies, the participants, were from the womenSA国际影视传媒檚 shelter,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e just finished the sewing program last Friday and a lot of the ladies were really sad that it was ending, so I thought this would be a really great opportunity for us to donate some funds, to maybe donate some sewing machines and materials for them.SA国际影视传媒�

A pilot version of the Miqqut Project took place in KakuktinniqSA国际影视传媒檚 hometown of Rankin Inlet in 2012 SA国际影视传媒� and she has previously credited that program as her introduction to traditional sewing.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had five elders teaching sewing traditional items, amautiit, mitts, parkas, kamiks and much more,SA国际影视传媒� said Kakuktinniq in 2017.

SA国际影视传媒淎fter I made my very first parka, I thought, SA国际影视传媒楾his is what I want to do.SA国际影视传媒� They taught us from start to finish. We designed our parka, made the pattern and completed it. Wow. It was so much fun and I just wanted to be able to design more parkas.SA国际影视传媒�

Kakuktinniq opened her Iqaluit shop 20 months ago. Now she has Paris Fashion Week on her professional resume.

AttagutsiakSA国际影视传媒檚 business, growing in renown, is called Nuvuja9.

For the show, Aayuraa StudioSA国际影视传媒檚 Mathew Nuqingaq, ENB Artisan, Kaajuk and LVH Jewelry provided accessories to complete each look. Nuqingaq, a famed drumdancer as well as jeweler, opened the show. Musical guests included Riit and Joshua Qaumariaq.

The two designers shared some of their Paris experiences prior to the Iqaluit event, such as acquiring tags for garments which included sealskin.

SA国际影视传媒淲e spent the day before trying to get tags from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and, thankfully, Kelly Fraser called around and got us those tags the day before we left,SA国际影视传媒� said Attagutsiak.

Fraser also modeled AttagutsiakSA国际影视传媒檚 garments in Paris.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were kind of nervous and we tried not to use too much sealskin in our garments because we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to run into any issues,SA国际影视传媒� said Kakuktinniq.

For both, Paris Fashion Week was an opportunity to share their Inuit culture, and they are grateful and honoured for the opportunity to do so. Being a part of the International Indigenous Fashion Week show at the Eiffel Tower was especially an opportunity to witness the traditional touches other Indigenous designers weaved into their collections.

KakuktinniqSA国际影视传媒檚 collection are inspired by the colours of spring and summer in the Arctic, like the soft pink sunset, purples and teals that come from the water. AttagutsiakSA国际影视传媒檚 collection, called Sinaa, was inspired by floe edge colours, SA国际影视传媒渉ow the ice is always changing during the springtime,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏lues and greys, white.SA国际影视传媒�

And, so, full circle back to Nunavut for the two.

SA国际影视传媒淲e both decided that it would be a really great idea for us to come back to Iqaluit and show our friends and family our garments,SA国际影视传媒� said Kakuktinniq.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 really excited that everyone will be able to see what we brought to Paris. ISA国际影视传媒檝e brought some of the pieces from Paris. One of the pieces that has sealskin and lace on it, I actually made in the Eiffel Tower. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a really cherished piece of mine,SA国际影视传媒� said Attagutsiak.

The Iqaluit event sold out, even after additional tickets went on sale.