Toronto “On Fire” With Indigenous Design
By Brita Brookes, on location, Ontario, Canada
Toronto’s IndigenUS festival at the Harbourfront Centre was recently host to the “Fire and Fashion Live 2009” clothing design expose and runway fashion show. Included among the six featured designers were Sagamok First Nation member Tracy Toulouse, Batchewana First Nation member Chessa Syrette and Danita Strawberry who is a member of both the Cree and Saulteaux tribes in Western Canada.
All designers showcased their collections to a large Toronto audience at the “Fire and Fashion Live 2009” event. This fashion show was held at the World Indigenous Fashion and Fine Arts Extravaganza, August 22, 2009 at the Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario.
Tracy Toulouse is from the North shores area in Northern Ontario, and grew up on the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. She is an Ojibway from the Bear clan. Tracy’s inspiration to design and create clothing came through her grandmother; who is a respected and gifted quilt-maker. As a child, she would sit by her grandmother’s side to watch her quilt and sew. Tracy’s company which has the name “Swirling Wind” is the spirit name given to her daughter Silver who now walks among her ancestors. This life change has brought Tracy strength, wisdom and humility to strive towards her goals and live in a good way.
The collection showcased by Tracy was inspired by the artistic motifs found in aboriginal culture, arts, nature and her own way of living. Many of the pieces have intricate and colorful appliqué designs that are located on the garments which are shaped, modern and sophisticated. The production of this line is done in Northern Ontario and made by First Nation people.
Tracy shows her work all over Canada and is known for both her modern fashion lines for men, women and children and for her creation of elaborate and intricate custom regalia for clients.
Chessa Syrette is a new designer that is capturing the fashion world with her unique and vibrant, fun-wearing, formal dress creations, inspired by nature’s beauty. Already a graduate of George Brown’s fashion design program, Chessa has recently graduated from Algoma University’s Fine Arts program. Her academic accomplishments, combined with the skills and experience of custom designing for fashion shows, graduations and weddings have allowed her to further her passion as an artist, bringing her most recent design creations to life.
Chessa’s line was focused on custom, formal dress designs that incorporated modern Aboriginal inspired details into each piece. Using beadwork, intricate seaming and exciting visual details, Chessa created designs that were confident and playful at the same time.
When asked what inspired her current collection, Chessa explained, “I find a lot of influence in colors, nature and the female body. I'm always looking to incorporate different types of seaming and new imaginative ways of using regular notions like buttons as flowers.”
The clothing line showcased by designer Danita Strawberry was inspired by her heritage, fashion sense and a commitment to bring clothes to life. Danita aspires to design clothing for people that will demonstrate the next wave in Canadian Fashion. Like any art form, Danita’s designing serves as a form of cultural pride, encompassing the essence of the human form in dress, design and decorations and the integrity of what Canadian fashion should be. “Native people of long ago made garments for all kinds of occasions as well as to dress themselves according to status. This is part of what I'm trying to achieve by creating clothes for people native and non native by designing a professional, classy look with a touch of native themes to them,” explains Danita.
When asked if Danita does additional work in the arts she stated that “I'm an artist, I like to draw and paint as well as sew and bead. I combine all four to achieve the look I want. I sometimes will doodle certain designs and try to fit them in clothing pieces to find if they look good or not.”
As a member of both the Cree and Saulteaux tribes in Western Canada, Danita’s collection is a reflection of her strong cultural pride, honoring the generations that came before who have used clothing as adornment and symbols of status in their societies. Her designs are a combination of her heritage and her present experience.
When asked about what she would tell youngsters who may want to try fashion design as a career path, Danita explained, “I think all native people are naturally talented in the arts and my advice to those who aspire to become designers ...just do it without stopping at all the obstacles that may come your way. Perseverance, determination and the belief in oneself will do wonders to a person.”
The event showcased six designers and included the vibrant Native singer Melisa Pash.
Representing the Northern Cree community of Chisasibi, Quebec, Melisa’s performance was a highpoint of the evening as she sang about following and using ones gifts in life.
Melisa’s biography states that “although her songs can be classified as pop rock, or contemporary, Melisa’s unique sound stems from her native inspirations. Almost every song she has created has been borne out of personal experience. Growing up in Val d’Or she witnessed the hurt of racism from the front line, which inspires her today to share her native culture, and work towards strengthening friendships between different nations. Melisa can proudly say that she has already begun to break down such cultural barriers. Today you can hear the traditional drums of her album playing on a rock station, or non-natives singing along to her song Nymwaytann which means “I am happy” in Cree. She is hopeful that her people will see this as inspiration and motivation to do great things.”
Melisa also finds time to mentor youth. “With her education and experience in business as well as the professional music industry, Melisa is currently preparing a “Protégé Program” where she will lend a helping hand to other Cree artists trying to start their careers in music. Melisa firmly believes that Cree musicians should strive to be high-grade professional artists. Her program will consist of helping motivated Cree musicians to find funding for their albums, hiring producers, photographers, and stylists, as well CD production, mixing, and mastering. Once an album is finished, Melisa will then help launch the artist’s album into the market.”
Also among the evening’s musical performers was DJ Plex who strutted down the runway in black and with emotion and energy, as he opened the event.
The event closed with a grand finale’ spectacle of Fire Breathing and Hoop Dancing done all while a circle of burning wood fires on the waters surface were lit surrounding the dancers. The sheer contrast of fire on the water made the event stunning to the senses in many ways. The sheer talent and drive of these six designers and musicians made the event inspiring and unforgettable to the viewer. Congratulations to these three talented Native women designers on accomplishing their dreams and for being able to share, use and have their design gifts appreciated by others in the world community.
For more information on the designers mentioned in this feature see the following web pages or they can also be found on facebook:
Danita Strawberry:
http://www.danitazfashions.com
http://www.myspace.com/danitaz_fashions
Tracy Toulouse:
http://www.swirlingwind.ca
Chessa Syrette:
Facebook
Melisa Pash:
http://www.myspace.com/melisapashmusic
Brita Brookes:
http://www.myspace.com/missbinthed
