Spotlight on fur fashions
International audience takes home memories of Northern fur
Walter Strong
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 2, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The international meeting of the Arctic Council SAO in Yellowknife may have been a closed-door event, but GNWT Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations (AAIR) took the opportunity to throw open the doors on Northern fur products for international guests.
Jahliele Paquin in a red fox hat courtesy of Just Furs, and red fox vest and dress from Masi Furs. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo |
The Northwest Territories Winter Reception showcased fur and leather sourced in the NWT and Nunavut, branded as genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur, with seal product under the the Nunavut Fine Furs Nature's Edge banner.
Along with the fine furs and seal skins, local models displayed jewelry and clothing accessories representing artisans, furriers and designers from across the NWT and Nunavut.
Event producer Johanna Tiemessen of Birch Spark Creative, and Francois Rossouw, manager for fur marketin and traditional economy with the GNWT Industry, Tourism and Investment, pulled the show together.
Celebrated designers like South Slave Dene D'Arcy Moses had work on display, as well as national fur boutiques contributed work to the show.
Northern artists and designers Jamie Look of Jamie Look Jewelry, Karen Wright-Fraser, Billie Lennie, Tishna Marlow, and Dene Fur Clouds were featured, as well as the fur houses of Just Furs, Musi Furs and Montreal's Jacques Cartier Clothier.
The one-evening event was a great way to put Canada's original industry – a truly sustainable Northern industry at that – on display for all to see.
"It was well received," Rossouw said. "We're a leader in doing what we do. Other jurisdictions have similar programs (to the NWT fur marketing program), especially the Scandinavian countries, but nothing compared to us."
