by Katarina Ziervogel

 

In the beautiful British Columbia, Vancouver, the first of Vancouver’s Indigenous Fashion Week was held for four days between July 26^th and July 19^th at Queen Elizabeth Theatre Atrium. It celebrated cultural appreciation for Indigenous designers and artists, instead of having their artwork appropriated by others.

Indigenous-based design was featured, as done by 32 Indigenous designers. Indigenous models represented the designers’ artwork on the catwalk, which is uncommon in the fashion world and in the media. It is necessary to ensure that Indigenous communities have true representatives of themselves to the public, as it will increase awareness of what’s going on inside Indigenous communities and sensitivity towards their culture, traditions and history.

This article from the Globe and Mail highlights how important it is to appreciate Indigenous culture, instead of stealing from it and making it your own when it is not your own.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/vancouvers-first-indigenous-fashion-week-to-celebrate-cultural-appreciation/article35023690/