Designer Profile | Alano Edzerza

It’s high time that I do a profile on this rising star in the fashion world (who, by many regards, can already be considered established).

Hailing from the Tahltan Nation, Alano Edzerza is currently based out of Vancouver, where he operates his gallery. He belongs to the Raven Clan, and the important bird features prominently in his artwork.

Although this post is strictly on his fashion design and apparel, Edzerza also creates jewelry, sculpture, glass work, two-dimensional art, and large-scale installations.

His apparel hit the international scene two years ago when he designed the uniforms for the Netherlands team for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in BC.

But you don't need to be an Olympian or even an athlete to wear his gear (this is good news for people like me). You can find his Northwest Coast-inspired designs on everything from tunic dresses to t-shirts and hoodies, and even some badass outerwear (see below). Another cool little fact?: his clothes are available in sizes that range from XS to 3XL.

Edzerza says he uses a Northern variation of Northwest Coast art, with a contemporary graphic art twist; and that is exactly what he does - taking cues from popular fashion (by decentering the designs), he also employs age-old Northwest Coast artistic practices of wrapping and expanding 2-D designs around an object (the human body, in this case). His designs are clean and striking, granting the wearers of his apparel the status of being 'effortlessly cool.'

(Black Formline on Blue, NAA004 by Alano Edzerza, XS-XL, $45, 

Model: Amberae Wood, Photo: Thosh)

(Ladies TriBlend Raglan Sleeve Pullover, NAA037-Eagles Landing, $45)

(Edzerza Eagle Shell Jacket By Alano Edzerza, XS-XL, $399.95, 

Model: Amberae Wood)

(Grey Smoke Hole cropped design on Black T-Shirt, 

NAA030 By Alano Edzerza, XS-2XL, $28)

(Formline Camo Hoodie, NAA017 By Alano Edzerza, XS-2XL, $80)

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Designer Profile | Sage Paul

Hello everyone, and Happy 2012! We are going to start off the new year with a rising designer: Sage Paul.

Sage Paul is a young emerging First Nations fashion designer who hails from the Dene Nation. She says she's been interested in fashion as long as she can remember, and she began designing by making clothing for herself when she was younger.

Paul attended George Brown College’s Fashion Design program in Toronto, graduating in 2006. She developed a unique perspective for fashion while working in the Toronto Indigenous arts community, an urban community that is vibrant and outspoken and one that she says she finds incredible inspiration. She is also inspired by the fashion designs of Alexander McQueen and Ronald Everett. Working with cultural and traditional concepts – both Indigenous and Euro-American - Paul seeks to identify the 'urban Indian' through her work.

Her most recent collection is titled The End of Summer Collection. "The colours," she explains, "are what have really grounded the collection – Sage, Mauve, Cream, and Navy. In addition to balancing the summer and fall colour trends, the colours are neutral, yet have a vibrancy which one would experience in the natural world. What I love about the collection is that it is so purposefully put together – the way the earth is, yet organic."

The End of Summer Collection

She explains that she is committed to creating an accurate representation of contemporary Indigenous people, and ethically produces and commissions unique, trendy and quality-made men’s and women’s ready-to-wear apparel, accessories and other Indigenous-made items.

Paul also runs a blog called Authentic Appropriations, where she explores and reports on current fashion trends and expressions from the urban Indigenous community. In an attempt to challenge stereotypical imagery, the blog features innovative styles of men and women from various Indigenous nations; Authentic Appropriations presents Indigenous people as we are today.

Street Style - Authentic Appropriations

For her next collection, Paul explains, "The fall 2012 Collection is centered around Migration and Relocation and examines the adaptation of being in a new, unfamiliar environment. Particularly of Indigenous people and our cultural adaptation, to see how traditional or natural materials and ideas can be used with an industrial approach. With this collection I'm playing a lot with traditional tailoring techniques and merging those with "native" tailoring and craftsmanship that I see in clothing throughout history, such as pow wow regalia or pre-contact tailoring. This collection will very much be about shape and craftsmanship."

Paul is also currently talking with Planet IndigenUs (August 10-19) to put something together for their annual arts festival held at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.

With cool new projects on the horizon, hopefully we'll hear more from Sage Paul in the next months.

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