Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 16/99) - The North will soon be seeing a resurgence in the fur industry, thanks in part to the launch of the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs label, says RWED.

"Northern wild fur is some of the finest fur in the world," said Stephen Kakfwi, minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic development.

"Marketing it as a unique, high grade commodity will breathe new life into the NWT trapping industry," Kakfwi said.

To showcase the label's collection, RWED and the NWT Metis Nation sponsored a fur fashion show last Friday on the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre's catwalk.

Prior to the launch, RWED developed a firm marketing strategy and hired a Montreal broker, L'Heritage, to market and collect Northern furs as a sole collection, said Francois Rossouw, the fur management officer of RWED.

"This will increase the value of the fur because it will be a limited collection of Northern furs."

Historically, Northern wild furs would get mixed in with the farm raised furs of the Southern market.

Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs will not only renew the fur industry in the North, but will also bring Canada onto the international stage as a serious competitor in the world of fur fashions.

"Fur and leather are beautiful products and this label will make a strong Canadian statement about who we are and what we will become," said Kakfwi.

More than 150 people gathered to watch local models flaunt fur creations designed by D'Arcy Moses, who designed the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs premier collection, Kristine Bourque, who designs for Just Furs, Dene Fur Clouds and Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk Furs.

The fashion show also coincided with the Fur Institute of Canada's annual general meeting, which took place in Yellowknife last week.

"Fur is important to the First Nation peoples of this country," said Thomas Coon, of the Fur Institute of Canada.

"It goes far beyond all commercial aspects, it is a tradition, a heritage and a way of life."

Just Furs, Dene Fur Clouds and Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk Furs are manufacturers in the North who will also have exclusive access to NWT wild fur.