Aboriginal Fashion Week to bring Aboriginal Fashion to a New Level
Chelsa Reil of the Nekaneet First Nation discusses her hopes and plans
by Timothy Lewis for the Indigenous Times Newspaper
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National Aboriginal Fashion Week (NAFW) will deliver a diverse experience that blends fashion and music by artists and designers from across Canada. The production includes street wear, eco-friendly fashions and Aboriginal designs. NAFW aims to be a global platform for new designers and emerging artists in North America. NAFW will recognize the rich culture and Canadian history by showcasing distinct Canadian heritage through contemporary fashion.
NAFW will feature 12 established and emerging designers; as well as live performances by Saskatchewan recording artists accompanied by international recording artists. A national presence through worldwide media coverage will provide unrivalled exposure for designers, models, musicians and sponsors. NAFW is a unique opportunity unlike any other in Canada.
All are invited to attend the summer 2012 National Aboriginal Fashion Week taking place June 21st to June 23rd 2012 at the Turvey Centre (Armour Road HWY 6 North), Regina, Saskatchewan.
IT sat down with Chelsa Reil, the director and producer of NAFW.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
CR. I am a 31 year old woman from the Nekaneet First Nation and a proud mother of 2 beautiful children that I love taking care of and watching grow, learn and develop. By doing a project of this calibre, I hope inspire to help others. It takes a lot of talent, the right mentors, drive, dedication and great personal sacrifice to do what I’ve been doing. I’ve been into fashion my whole life and am a leading figure in the fashion scene in Saskatchewan. I love to travel and shop and compare the differences in fashion in communities around the world. I often find myself getting looks, with people asking “what are you wearing?” to find that brand or item is popular a year later.
Q: What inspired you to put on a fashion week?
CR: I’ve been directing/producing fashion shows for five years in places like New Mexico, to the 2010 Olympics in downtown Vancouver. In Saskatchewan, I feel that there are a lot of designers and not enough outlets for showcasing their creativity. I’ve organized shows with two or three Aboriginal designers at a time and I’ve met quite a few along the way. It’s in this context that the idea came to me, why don’t I organize a large fashion collective and make it 100% Aboriginal designers? It evolved to incorporate models, performers, entertainers and volunteers, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal.
Q: I hear a Western Canada Fashion Week (WCFW) representative will be at the event. Can you tell us more about how NAFW will benefit from that partnership?
CR: WCFW will send a rep to come to NAFW, he or she will then choose one designer, who will be sponsored by WCFW, for a free showcase in the next WCFW in September, occuring in Edmonton, Alberta.
Q: What makes your fashion week different from others?
CR: Aboriginals are looked at as a minority in this world and I want to show the world that we are just as good as anyone one else. A lot of the designs are crafted by hand, whether through sewing, beading or painting. So it’s real couture fashion. All the designers have unique looks and they are all very beautiful creations. A few of the Aboriginal celebrities confirmed for the event include Linsay from Canada’s Next Top Model, The Baker Twins, and Lisa Muswagon from Winnipeg. The fashion week will be a place for Aboriginals to express themselves freely and positively.
Q: What else will be happening at the fashion week?
CR: Doors will open at 10am for trade show booths and mini fashion shows throughout the day (a sneak-peek at what will be showcased the night of) and then at 7PM the fashion show will start, including live Entertainment. Female hoops dancer, flute player, as well as part of the cast of BLACKSTONE will be featured. Keep an eye on www.nafw.ca for more updates as it gets closer to the date.
Q: Are you still looking for sponsors for your Fashion Week, and if so, how can they be part of it?
CR: Yes. If someone is interested in becoming a sponsor, they can email me at chelas@nafw.ca and request a sponsorship package.
Thank you Chelsa for taking time to speak to us, and we look forward to seeing the creative Aboriginal designs at the NAFW.
Contact Information:
Website: http://www.nafw.ca
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NationalAboriginalFashionWeek
Phone: (306) 201-6110
Email: chelas@nafw.ca
