Dorothy Grant at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week Nov 28-Dec 2, 2022

I have the Red Raven scarf made by local Haida Fashion Designer, Dorothy Grant. The red raven seems ready to fly from a black background. Visible from a distance, it draws the eye. Raven sits on my white coat, every winter. I wear the scarf and look more at Ravens. And everywhere I look, I see Dorothy Grant's work. A prolific Designer, she has been creating clothing and jewellery since 1989. I have seen her here, at the Museum of Vancouver and at all of the Indigenous Fashion Weeks in Vancouver as well as one in Toronto. She has been a Member of the Order of Canada, since 2015. Here are her beautiful designs at this year's Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. I love how the designs can call you from a sleeve or a cuff or a pocket or they can animate a whole dress or coat. This is statement, culture, ceremony, transformation and language, a visual world that calls us to observe and create.

Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week happens once a year and this was the fourth! It is 5 days of the best of Fashion, Art and Performance from established and emerging Indigenous Artists. Always well organized, it is a fine welcome to a must be seen celebration of Artists in our midst. Thanks to Co Producers Joleen Mitton and Pam Baker and their huge team for making this a great platform to showcase Indigenous achievement. Thanks to Bold Love for her Social Media expertise, ongoing support and for sharing these photos! Hats off to fantastic photographer Alana Peterson for the closeup details and for capturing the dance down the runway!

Dianna Drahanchuk, who frequently guests on Clothes Line Finds, interviewed Dorothy Grant, here.

When I was in Toronto at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, I posted about her in Harvest Moon.

At the first VIFW, in July of 2017, there she was, supporting that very first outdoor runway, right in the heart of Vancouver.

I look forward to seeing Dorothy Grant, at the next VIFW and of course, on my journeys to Seattle, Toronto, and in Vancouver. A raven will be nearby.

 

Photo credit: Alana Peterson via VIFW

 

One Night Is Not Enough, Nov, 29, 2022 At Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week

This is the 4th Indigenous Fashion Week and I have been lucky enough to see 2 in Vancouver and one in Toronto and went for one night, here, at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Nov. 29th. It was a magnificent evening, full of celebration and reconnecting. Fashion was modelled so skillfully and confidently by Supernaturals Modelling Agency. Although they had several staircases and an elevated runway as well as a floor level runway to negotiate, they walked with pride and power to showcase Indigenous Designed clothing and accessories. Beading, Weaving, Embroidery, Painting, all presented graphically, like photos of places, land, sea, sky, flowers, animals, people, symbols and patterns worn and shared yesterday, today and tomorrow. And there is such creative use of textiles, whether for regalia, street style, couture or a mix of all of these. There is bone, button, shell, plants, feathers, and more, all represented graphically and all used and reused, the ultimate upcycling and recycling. Not just tailoring or accessorizing but vivid displays of culture, story, journeys and ways of sharing worlds. Everywhere I sat or stood seemed too far away but here are a few of the Designers I managed to catch. Much more at vifw.ca 

Danielle Morsette Coast Salish Weaver, also see a YouTube video: Woven by Danielle Morsette 2016. A prolific Artist, she has exhibited at museums everywhere and has taught her weaving to many. Loved how weaving is incorporated into a belt, the fabric of a dress, a headband and a feature piece down the front of a dress. I also love the fringe and how the colours carry through from the dress to the fringed hem. Intricate and dynamic: expert.

Catherine Blackburn and Melanie LeBlanc

Dene Jewellery Designer Catherine Blackburn who has exhibited widely and has won multiple awards, is collaborating with Melanie LeBlanc, who is Dene and European and is dedicated to slow fashion and handmade. In fact, every piece is made by her and made by hand. These two Designers have collaborated on this outstanding collection of traditional and modern clothing and accessories. More Catherine B Jewellery and Melanie Leblanc Apparel.

I made a reel from the photos I took, while in a crowd at the top of the staircase. People stood to get closer and the cheers and accolades were loud and ongoing throughout the runway show. I heard, "encore" "encore" but time was up as they descended to the floor below for the grand finale.

More on Indigenous Designers here. There is also a great write up too at here. I expect to see many more articles in the near future.