Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto kicks off with New Moon

The inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto kickedoff Thursday evening, showcasing new and upcoming designers.

The entire event will take place over four days, each dayculminating with arunway showcase inspired by the traditional phases of the moon. Thursday was dubbed New Moon.

"This is something that I've wanted to do since I was in college," said Sage Paul.

Paul, who identifies as anurban Dene woman, is the artistic director and founder of Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto.

"The goal of this fashion week is to redefinefashion where Indigenous voices and Indigenous representation is led by us," said Paul.

"Generally speaking there's an image of a pan-Indianso by bringing together all of our various nations it allows for a very diverse, exciting celebration."

New Moonrepresents spring and birth a fittingshowcase fornew works and emerging designers.

Toronto-based First Nations designerLesley Hampton presented her latest collection"Lithium" which aims to break down the stigma around mental health.

"It's really exciting to be part of this," said Hampton.

"A lot of the time big box stores appropriate Indigenous designs so this is kind of our rebellion to that, showing the authentic way to do these designs."

Diversity is a major theme of the Lesley Hampton brand both in the garments that she creates and the selection of models that Hampton uses.

Designer Evan Ducharmechannels hisMtisheritage in his latest collection,Atavism: Revisited, for practicalfashion reminiscent of his upbringing.

"It's great to be surrounded by so many Indigenous artists and Indigenous minds," said Ducharme.

"We're all so incredibly diverse, the only thing our work has in common is our connection to ourindigeneity.

Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto opens with 'New Moon' showcase

6 years ago

Duration 1:54

The inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto kicked off with a 'New Moon' runway showcase. On opening day, CBC Indigenous spoke with the artistic director and designers about what makes this event so special.

"There's so many amazing events going on. It's rare that anevent of this nature happens but it's an embarrassment of riches;we're just swimming in this amazing pool of Indigenous intellectual minds and artists."

Over four days there will be 24featured designers from Canada, the United States and Greenlandshowcasingtheir unique designs, textiles, and interpretations of Indigenous fashion.

In addition to the runway shows, there are also workshops running through the afternoon each day where participants can learn skills likeNavajo rug weaving. There's also an introductory beading class.

Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto runs until Sunday, June 3at the Brigantine Room, 235 Queen's Quay West.