An Indigenous fashion designer from Chilliwack will be in the spotlight on a national level this week.

Justin Louis, co-founder and creative director of clothing company Section 35, is one of 16 designers who will be featured at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto Nov. 26 to 29.

He describes Section 35 as B次元官网网址淚ndigenous street styleB次元官网网址� clothing.

Louis has five B次元官网网址渓ooksB次元官网网址� in the fashion show, and Section 35 will be one of five collections shown in the opening night runway film on Nov. 26.

The four-day long fashion week will showcase one film per day, each is water themed: Tu GhB次元官网网址檈h Nah (Water Is Life on Nov. 26), Tu Cho (Lake - Nov. 27), Tu GhB次元官网网址檈g TlB次元官网网址檈B次元官网网址檛h (Streams - Nov. 28), and Tu GhB次元官网网址檈l TB次元官网网址檌lhn (Water Carriers - Nov. 29).

Each look in his collection (called Miyo Pimatisiwin - The Good Life) has one B次元官网网址渟tatementB次元官网网址� piece plus B次元官网网址渟upportingB次元官网网址� pieces, Louis explains.

His work is inspired by sportswear, but also by his childhood.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of itB次元官网网址檚 inspired by my upbringing being Cree from back in Alberta. IB次元官网网址檝e made some patterns with syllabics [written characters representing syllables] that I thought turned out pretty cool.B次元官网网址�

The collection also includes custom-made varsity letterman jackets with syllabics and chenille patchwork, plus hand-dyed garments.

He was scheduled to take part in the biannual event two years ago in its inaugural year, but Louis had to pull out for personal reasons. This year they invited him back.

The fashion week was supposed to take place during the summer, but because of the pandemic itB次元官网网址檚 virtual this year. That meant Louis could not fly out there, rather he shipped the garments out to the crew in Toronto.

B次元官网网址淓veryone was really amped for this year and with the pandemic pushing everything back, I was really bummed that we couldnB次元官网网址檛 go out there.

B次元官网网址淲e did our best to curate them from a distance,B次元官网网址� Louis added. B次元官网网址淚 trust the crew out there because IB次元官网网址檝e seen them and IB次元官网网址檝e worked closely with them before.B次元官网网址�

Section 35 started in late 2013 and is based in East Vancouver, but it didnB次元官网网址檛 go full bore until early 2016. The name refers to Section 35 of the Constitution Act of 1982, which protects and recognizes Indigenous and treaty rights.

The company consists of B次元官网网址渢wo and a halfB次元官网网址� people and the clothing is made in East Van, while most of the designing takes place at LouisB次元官网网址檚 home office in Chilliwack.

Originally, Louis never anticipated doing fashion shows, but when they launched their first website in 2016 and began releasing multiple collections consistently throughout the year, runways became part of what they do.

Over the years, heB次元官网网址檚 shown in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Calgary.

The process to present his collection at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto has been different than any other show. He hasnB次元官网网址檛 even seen the final runway video of his own work.

Louis did, however, see a sneak peek of the film and said it was B次元官网网址渞eally well done.B次元官网网址� He figures he will see the final product on Nov. 26 when everyone else does.

B次元官网网址淯nless they send us a final version the day or two before,B次元官网网址� he added.

HeB次元官网网址檚 hoping the exposure will bring new followers, a new audience and more business to Section 35.

B次元官网网址淏ut I also think itB次元官网网址檒l inspire me as well to keep creating, and doing what I do, and try and push the boundaries with whatB次元官网网址檚 being done.B次元官网网址�

On Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. EST (4 p.m. PST) folks can watch the opening night runway film featuring the Section 35 collection B次元官网网址楳iyo Pimatisiwin.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 hope they like what they see. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a bunch of really talented people on the roster that have been doing it for a while or are up-and-coming. IB次元官网网址檓 excited for everybody to be there.B次元官网网址�

Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto includes runways, a pop-up marketplace, and panels. Incorporating fashion, film, theatre and dance, the filmed runway presentations offer an intimate view of each garment from the 16 designers.

To watch, go to . Admission is free.

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