Rankin's rising star
Young fashion designer takes business award at trade show
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
RANKIN INLET/NUNAVUT
A young woman from Rankin Inlet with a gift for flare and fashion took home one of the biggest awards at the Nunavut Trade Show in Iqaluit this past month.
Reanna Sateana Johnston of Rankin Inlet models one of Victoria Kakuktinniq's fashion creations at the Kivalliq Trade Show in Rankin this past week. - photo courtesy of Victoria Kakuktinniq |
The announcement of Victoria's Arctic Fashion taking the territorial trade show's 2015 Business of the Year Award capped an amazing early run for Victoria Kakuktinniq's career.
Just three short years ago, Kakuktinniq, 26, was the last person anyone would have expected to win an award for fashion design and creation.
The mega-talented designer enrolled in the Miqqut program (itself a national award-winning program) in Rankin Inlet in 2012.
At the time, Kakuktinniq barely had any sewing skills at all.
The Ilitaqsiniq - Nunavut Literacy Council's Miqqut program uncovered her talents and fuelled her desire to be part of the fashion world.
A year later, she took the next step in her rapid rise to becoming one of Nunavut's top designers by completing a fashion-design program at MC College in Winnipeg.
Kakuktinniq, 26, said she made her very first parka in the Miqqut program.
She said she could not sew a thing if her life depended on it when she started the program.
"The response to my parka was so amazing; not only because of how it looked but because I was a young Inuk woman who sewed it herself," said Kakuktinniq. "I was so proud and excited, I just knew, then and there, I wanted to take fashion design. I decided to move to Iqaluit when I finished MC College, which really wasn't that hard of a decision.
"I went to Iqaluit quite a few times for sports and had a whole bunch of friends there so, at the time, I thought it would be best because of all the events and opportunities it has, and that turned out to be a great decision for me."
Kakuktinniq said she's been able to access a great deal of funding since relocating to Iqaluit.
She said she's also received a great deal of help and support from the Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association, especially its executive director, Rowena House.
"Rowena is absolutely amazing and she's always supporting me, she said. "She helped me develop my business plan and access funding, and I'm very grateful for her help."
Kakuktinniq said she had no clue, whatsoever, she was winning the 2015 Business of the Year Award.
She said she had accepted Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce executive director Chris West's request for her to host a fashion show at the Nunavut Trade Show, when, upon his return from travel, he asked her to meet with him.
"He told me the news in his office and I was so surprised, I just couldn't believe it," said Kakuktinniq.
"Once I got over the shock, it was a moment I'll never forget."
Kakuktinniq's creations are best described as traditional Inuit attire with a modern flare.
She works primarily on custom orders, with each customer receiving one-on-one attention in the creation of their garment of choice.
Kakuktinniq said she has each customer come in to meet with her, during which time she'll take their measurements and discuss the details of what type of jacket they want.
She has the customer view jackets she's made in the past (viewable on her Victoria's Arctic Fashion Facebook page), and then discusses any modifications they may have in mind before starting work on the pattern.
Kakuktinniq said up to now, she's mostly done all the cutting, sewing and pattern-making herself, but she's currently in the process of hiring her first employees.
She said she received funding from the Kakivak Association and the Baffin Business Development Corp. to help her obtain better equipment to be able to sew quicker and better.
"I moved into a bigger place this past February, so now I have my own studio and I'm getting all new equipment, materials and fur.
"So everything's looking really good right now and I just hired my first employee this past week.
"I'm so excited to be getting help now, because I really need it."
Kakuktinniq still uses Commander material because it's 100 per cent windproof.
She said she likes to add a touch of sealskin to the bottom of a jacket, and uses the ever popular amauti design.
"I really like to add a modern twist to my creations, because trends are always changing and everyone wants to stay up to trend, she said. "I'm working on winter parkas right now, and I also make business attire for special events, my popular sealskin embroidered headbands and embroidered sealskin mitts.
"My favourite to work on is a long size, very form-fitting parka with amauti-style sealskin trim and the side zipper, which everybody loves because you get the big, full hood with the fur coming around your face.
"It's just so flattering and very eloquent."
