Harvest Moon: An Intergenerational Honouring of Our Matriarchs, Their Stories and Designs and Designs that Passed Through Generations

At IFWTO 2018, I was able to attend two of the four runway shows. The first, New Moon, was a fabulous introduction to a four day week of shows, panels, workshops, gatherings, a dynamic 55 Artist Market Place and Designer Showroom and much more. Coming back to Toronto for the next one, for sure. HARVEST MOON radiated behind Rosary Spence, Mushkegawuk Cree, as she sang in traditional style that called our attention to the seasons of the moon rather than to fashion season.

Lots of Designers from Vancouver and in this, second runway show, there are two: Denise Brillon, Cree, whose collection honours her aunt, Blanche MacDonald, Designer, Model, Teacher, YWCA Women of Distinction Award Winner, creator and former owner of The Blanche MacDonald Institute, Vancouver, and Dorothy Grant, Haida. who continues the work of her maternal Grandmother, Florence Edenshaw.

The four Harvest Moon designers: Tracy Toulouse, Anishinaabe, Denise Brillon, Delina White, Ojibwa, and Dorothy Grant, presented clothing and accessories that are the result of traditional training from hand to hand, formal education, and exceptional creative abilities, that have brought them continued success in Fashion, the Arts and in Business.

Favourite photos are here, but I encourage you to read more about these fantastic designers on the IFWTO website. Further note: ART!Vancouver does a runway show of Artists carrying their paintings and sculptures down the red carpet. Dorothy Grant sent a dress and a man's shirt and suit down that carpet! This is a first and a grand statement about Indigenous fashion, truly a Wearable Art.

Standing ovation! Captivated audiences!