Indigenous designers team up with Simons

Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO) has teamed up with the Montreal-headquartered retailer Simons to showcase eight Indigenous designers.

Part of the in-house Edito collection, the collaboration sees the selection of artists from communities across Canada embellish garments with printed graphics, embroidery, beadwork and more, each one unique to their specific craft.

“Indigenous fashion and arts hold generations of knowledge and practice that I see continuously moving in very exciting ways,” says Sage Paul, the artistic director of Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto.

The collaboration is bringing that knowledge and talent to Canadian shoppers in select stores and online at Simons.ca. We caught up with Paul to learn more.

Q Who is the collection for?

A The collection is for everyone. There is a good range of sizing and is also designed to be nonbinary in terms of gender. The collection is versatile.

Q How would you describe the pieces that will be on offer in the IFWTO x Edito Collection?

A This collection is exemplary of working locally and with community. I’m really proud of this project. The designers come from across the country and have worked in their studios with their teams at a local level using materials they obtain locally and even from the earth. The designers had full creative freedom to collaborate on these garments.

Each garment is one-of-akind spring-summer piece, and the designers have personally interacted with each garment. The designers have embellished the garments with motifs and designs that are individual, artistic and cultural expression. Through this project we have been able to create a collection that is also an exhibition of art made with a thoughtfulness for anyone to take home and wear any day.

Q Do you have a favourite pick? If so, which one and why?

A I couldn’t pick a favourite. Each designer is distinct to the art and design they create. That is what I love about the collection, how the designers were able to maintain their individual vision within the overall cohesiveness of the garments.

Some exciting things about the collection are the use of red ochre, a natural dye, used through minimal design by Tania Larsson. The thoughtful and appropriate placement of traditional Anishinaabe appliqué by mother-daughter duo Cheryl and Carissa Copenace. Designer Niio Perkins has also taken a more traditional approach through Haudenosaunee beadwork in a thoughtful and appropriate way. I also love the modern, conceptual approaches that Evan Ducharme and Warren Steven Scott have taken through use and placement of materials like yarn and acrylic. Tracy Toulouse has been working in fashion for decades now, and it is a treat to see her iconic Anishinaabe floral work in a department store.

Q Lastly, where can people learn more about IFWTO?

A People can learn more at our website at ifwtoronto.com.