The Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival is proud to announce programming for its fourth edition, running May 30 – June 2, 2024 in Toronto, with 100+ Indigenous artists, designers, makers, brands and pundits from Canada and worldwide. The IFA Festival will take place over four days with runway shows and a 70-vendor marketplace at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, with the Fashioning Resurgence symposium and workshop series at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Student Learning Centre. In 2024, IFA plans to welcome its biggest audience yet, with attendees experiencing the dynamic Indigenous talent in fashion today. Tickets are available now through indigenousfashionarts.com.
“We are thrilled to bring the fourth edition of the IFA Festival to Toronto, celebrating the profound expression and distinction of Indigenous fashion and the communities that uphold it. This year’s programming gracefully weaves a narrative of reverence and conviction, showcasing Indigenous survival, innovation, and pride,” said Sage Paul, Executive and Artistic Director of IFA. “We are ecstatic to host the community at our new home, CF Toronto Eaton Centre, which represents a transformative opportunity to showcase art and fashion in the city. As we venture into new realms, we remain dedicated to enriching our communities, reclaiming our sartorial stories, and sharing them on our own terms.”
The Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival will present four runway shows at CF Toronto Eaton Centre after mall hours under the theme Reverence & Conviction, curated by Wanda Nanibush (Anishinaabe), Melanie Egan, and Sage Paul (Denesuline). This year’s runway program celebrates the rich cultural expressions of Indigenous peoples from Canada, the USA, Brazil, Greenland, New Zealand, and Indonesia.
RUNWAY
The Mainstage Runway opens May 30 with My Tender Bundle presented by La Maison Simons, a demonstration of family justice and radical caregiving featuring Acahkos Designs, Arctic Luxe, BIBI CHEMNITZ, K. Lookinghorse, Mobilize Waskawewin, and R S Gustafson. The resilience and ingenuity of Indigenous designers are showcased in Fierce + Fearless presented by CIBC on May 31 featuring IX BALAM, HAKHU AMAZON DESIGN, Haus of Dumont, Rebecca Baker-Grenier, and ReeCreeations with an opening drag performance by Chelazon Leroux, of Canada’s Drag Race Season 3. In From This Ground We Grow presented by Roots on June 1, designers including Dene Couture by Tishna Marlowe, Janelle Wawia, Jillian Waterman, Justin Jacob Louis, Lesley Hampton, and Naomi Bourque showcase their deep connections to place. On June 2, the finale Materialize dives into the fascinating realm of material culture featuring Indi City x Heather Bouchier, Jennifer Younger Designs, Merdi Sihombing, Pacha Indigenous Art Collection, Randi Nelson Designs, Taalrumiq, and Ujaraatsiaq’s Garments.
MARKETPLACE
The Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival Marketplace presented by Holt Renfrew will be held June 1 and 2 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre during business hours for attendees to explore, shop, and connect with 75+ Indigenous artists, designers, collectives, and brands worldwide. These exhibitors reflect the diversity and distinction of Indigenous fashion, craft, and textiles with a wide variety of quality-made clothing and accessories with gender and size-inclusive, ready-to-wear, bespoke and upcycled options. The Marketplace will be divided into several sections, each highlighting different aspects of Indigenous fashion with beadwork, weaving, metalwork, fur and leather, home textiles, quillwork, and fine craft. The full list of Marketplace exhibitors is available HERE.
The IFA Marketplace will also feature collectives and brands from the Mainstage Runway in three sections including the Sharing Circle which uplifts the Indigenous fashion community by representing several artists on their platforms; Shoulder Dusters for those who love statement earrings; and The Showroom, displaying legacy pieces, including high fashion, jewelry, and accessories.
“At Cadillac Fairview, building engaging and inclusive experiences is at the heart of our business and we’re proud to partner with the IFA to host the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival runway show at CF Toronto Eaton Centre this spring,” said Sheila Jennings, General Manager, CF Toronto Eaton Centre.
SPOTLIGHT
The IFA marketplace spotlight for 2024 is the Abiayala Spotlight curated by Samay Cajas (Kichwa) and programmed by IFA, with Indigenous designers in marketplace exhibits from Chile to Mexico. Abiayala means mature land, or land of blood, in the Guna language, and the designers in this spotlight all draw inspiration from a deep ancestral, knowledgeable source that brings new, contemporary energy into the world of fashion. The Abiayala Spotlight on June 1 and 2 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre will include: Andes Warmi, El Techichi Jewelry, HAKHU AMAZON DESIGN, IX BALAM, Okama, Pacha Indigenous Art Collection, The Zapotec Weavers, Warmichic, Janekeo Kanio and Yala Mola.
PANELS & WORKSHOPS
The Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival will also include the Fashioning Resurgence Symposium with six panel discussions and a masterclass running May 30-June 2 at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Student Learning Centre with topics including Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability, Fashion in Galleries & Museums, Grant Writing, and Mindful Merchandising.
Three intensive, hands-on workshops, supported by Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, will take place at The Creative School to sustain and promote traditional Indigenous skills and practices. This year’s workshops include metalwork with renowned artist Mathew Nuqingaq, madder root dyeing with elder Carola Jones, and quill weaving with practitioner Arsene Betsidea.
Indigenous Fashion Arts is pleased to have the support of partners that share our values and whose contributions help us to celebrate the creativity of Indigenous artists and designers from around the world.
Indigenous Fashion Arts presents Indigenous-made fashion, craft and textiles. IFA is committed to exploring the deep connections between mainstream fashion, Indigenous art and traditional practice through presentation for broad audiences and industries. With amplified visibility of and led by Indigenous women, IFA is bold, inclusive and accessible. We challenge perceptions of and celebrate Indigenous people and our culture with integrity, innovation and excellence. The IFA Festival is a bi-annual event that began in 2018.
Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival
May 30-June 2, 2024
CF Toronto Eaton Centre, 220 Yonge Street
Toronto Metropolitan University Student Learning Centre, 341 Yonge Street
Fashion at The Creative School, 80 Gould Street
Tickets On Sale Now
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Presenting Partner
Rogers
Official Venue Partner
Cadillac Fairview
Official Bank & Runway Partner
CIBC
Official Runway Partners
La Maison Simons
Roots
Official Marketplace Partner
Holt Renfrew
Official Makeup Partner
MAC Cosmetics
Hair Care Partner
Redken
Official Logistics Partner
UPS
Maker Partner
Manitobah
Education Partners
Humber College
Toronto Metropolitan University
Promotional Partners
Pinterest
Windspeaker
Media Partners
Seeing Red Media
The Kit
Foundation Partners
Inspirit Foundation
Inuit Art Foundation
Public Partners
Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival 2024 is made possible with the support of our public funders and partners.
Government of Canada
Canada Council for the Arts
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Government of Ontario
Ontario Arts Council
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment & Training
City of Toronto
Toronto Arts Council
The Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival has been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.
About Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts contributes to the vibrancy of a creative and diverse arts and literary scene and supports its presence across Canada and around the world. The Council is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.” The Council’s grants, services, initiatives, prizes, and payments support Canadian artists, authors, and arts groups and organizations. This support allows them to pursue artistic expression, create works of art, and promote and disseminate the arts and literature. Through its arts funding, communications, research, and promotion activities, the Council fosters evergrowing engagement of Canadians and international audiences in the arts. The Council’s Public Lending Right (PLR) program makes annual payments to creators whose works are held in Canadian public libraries. The Council’s Art Bank operates art rental programs and helps further public engagement with contemporary arts through exhibition and outreach activities. The Council is responsible for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, which promotes the values and programs of UNESCO to contribute to a future of peace, reconciliation, equity, and sustainable development.
Media Contacts:
Olivia Szlagowski, olivia@janegillpr.com
Damien Nelson, damien@wantandable.ca
Campaign Credits:
Photographer: Kali Spitzer
Designer: ReeCreeations
Model: Ellyn Jade
Stylist: Kikki Guerard
Hair: Israel Garcia
Makeup: Summer Faith Garcia