These Cree designers were inspired by their families to get into fashion
CBC
Two Cree fashion designers who are inspired by family took the chance by leaving their home communities and are following their dreams.
Brandon Morin Fox, a two-spirit emerging designer from Piapot First Nation, grew up in the North Central area of Regina.
Though he lost both of his parents in his early teens, he grew up in an artistic and musical family as his father was a drummer and a singer who encouraged their individuality.
“Which is one of the reasons why I feel like I'm able to confidently pursue a creative passion and make it a career,” said Morin Fox.
At 23, Morin Fox enrolled in the fashion design program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Morin Fox said he chose the program due to its Indigenous fashion community, with designers like Warren Steven Scott, Justine Woods and Riley Kucheran.
“I really do feel like fashion inherently has always been in my blood,” said Morin Fox.
“I feel like as Indigenous peoples, we've always found a way to embellish and adorn ourselves.”
Morin Fox said his designs are traditional mixed with contemporary and he has taken the luxury route because there's so much duality in Indigenous fashion.
His designs have already caught the attention of an L.A. musician, Aries, who wanted one of Morin’s jackets to wear for an album cover.
Morin Fox said he also got to dress Kairyn Potts and Scott Wabano for promotional imagery for their podcast.
“They reached out, saw my work and it felt nice because they appreciated it and saw me as an artist, knowing that I didn't have this large portfolio of work to show them,” said Morin Fox.
“They trusted my vision.”
Morin Fox will be launching his debut fall/winter collection of five unisex pieces in April.
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