Posted at 11:00 a.m.
Inuit designer Victoria Kakuktinniq collaborates with Canada Goose
The Atigi project is back for a third year at Canada Goose and it’s Inuit designer Victoria Kakuktinniq who imagined the three coats in this mini-collection. Designs that she says celebrate her heritage, her community and her craftsmanship.
The Atigi Project — “atigi” means “parka” in Inuktitut — is a program set up by the Canadian coat manufacturer to promote Inuit culture and support employment, education and cultural preservation in the Canadian North. Proceeds from the project go to Inuit communities across Canada through Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK).
PHOTO COURTNEY LARUE, SUPPLIED BY CANADA GOOSE
Inuit designer Victoria Kakuktinniq created the Project Atigi 2022 collection with Canada Goose.
Hailing from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Victoria Kakuktinniq has been making parkas since 2014 with her hometown brand Victoria’s Arctic Fashion (VA F.). She had the opportunity to present her creations during fashion weeks in Toronto, New York and Paris. “It was my grandmother, my sister and my mother who made me want to sew,” she says, by email. Growing up, they all made parkas and clothes to keep our family warm. […] I have always been very inspired by these strong Inuit women and knew from an early age that I wanted to learn how to create and design parkas and Nordic clothing like they did. »
His vision of the parka, which combines modern cuts with traditional style, has been carried over to his collaboration with Canada Goose. It offers a parka, a down coat and a waterproof windbreaker that reflect its history. The colors dark jade green, amethyst, dark azure and black, which can also be found in his own collections, evoke the northern lights dancing in the sky of his village. She also created a tattoo border that adorns each of the three coats. “This specific design represents the milestones in my life and my strength as a single mother,” she explains. It is also a tribute to my parents, who guided me in life and supported me personally and professionally. »
According to Victoria Kakuktinniq, a good parka, for the North, is made “with good quality materials and has a fur hood, because the wind is rough”. “If you’re on dry land, you also need a good parka that’s not too tight, leaves some room for movement, and is made with water-resistant materials. Around town, you’ll see more form-fitting styles, like my signature silhouette, made with multi-layered materials and systems that retain heat. »
In 2021, Canada Goose announced that it would end the purchase of fur by the end of 2021 and stop manufacturing it no later than the end of 2022. Victoria Kakuktinniq does not believe this decision will have a effect on the company’s support of northern communities.
“As an Aboriginal woman, I am a strong advocate for the use and promotion of sustainable fur,” she continues. As an Inuit, whose communities and livelihoods depend on the ability to survive in the harsh Arctic climate, and whose traditional way of life is in harmony with the land and the abundance of resources that it provides, it is imperative that I uphold and remain true to this traditional way of life. »
The Project Atigi 2022 collection is available at Canada Goose stores and online.
It’s trendy: the balaclava for cold weather
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PHOTO FROM ODEYALO WEBSITE
The Montreal brand Odeyalo offers its Lupita balaclava in several colors. Made of cotton, it can be worn alone or under a toque in freezing weather. Price: $60.
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PHOTO FROM THE MAMÉ WEBSITE
The balaclava fits perfectly into the DNA of Mamé, a company that knows how to make crochet clothes cool. Hand-knitted, this merino wool balaclava takes three hours to crochet. Price: $85
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PHOTO DAVID HYNES, PROVIDED BY BBBALACLAVA
Graphic designer and art director Danielle Sayer creates colorful crochet balaclavas for children and adults. As it is an artisanal production, it is necessary to follow the arrivals. The next one is scheduled for February 10. Price: between $60 and $140
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PHOTO FROM ELIZA FAULKNER’S WEBSITE
Montreal designer Eliza Faulkner used her leftover fabric to make “frilly and functional” balaclavas. Made of a blend of Tencel and wool, they can be worn under a toque. Price: $65
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PHOTO FROM THE P’TITS MÖSUS WEBSITE
Balaclavas are also very popular with children. Here, a model in merino wool from Les P’tits Mösus, knitted in Quebec. Price: $115
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It certainly does not please everyone, but it is clear that the balaclava (balaclava) is one of the winter trends. We’ve seen hooded models on the catwalks of major fashion shows for a few years now, but the accessory is experiencing an increase in popularity this winter in the streets and on social networks. On TikTok, the hashtag is attached to 141 million videos. Moschino, Balmain, Stella McCartney and Raf Simmons have presented their version and they can be found (or were, since many stores are out of stock) in major brands like Zara, H&M and Aritzia. Originally associated with warfare and not high fashion, the balaclava takes its name from the Ukrainian town of Balaclava, scene of a battle in 1854 during the Crimean War, during which British soldiers wore this balaclava to protect themselves freezing cold. In cotton or wool, the fashionable model at the moment is the hooded one that covers the head and neck while leaving the face exposed. Here are some local suggestions. For knitters, many patterns are available on the Ravelry site.
New: elegant pajama day
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PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, LAW
Gisèle Banodji and Naomie Kamuanya started Élégance de soi in February 2021.
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PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, LAW
The company offers satin dressing gowns and pajamas with African wax patterns.
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PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, LAW
Plain, this dressing gown has a cotton wax border.
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PHOTO ÉTIENNE RANGER, LAW
Each dressing gown is sold for $59.99.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY ELEGANCE DE SOI
The Lolita dressing gown
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Pajama days take a chic turn with the pajamas and dressing gowns from the young company Élégance de soi. Inspired by the new pandemic reality and by their African roots, Gisèle Banodji and Naomie Kamuanya offer loungewear that highlights African fabric, adapted to Western style. Given the success of their first collection, sold on Facebook, the two Gatineau human resources consultants launched their online store last December. There are five models of dressing gowns and two satin pajamas, one for men and one for women. They feature the colorful patterns found on the wax loincloth, a fabric of Dutch origin, but which has integrated African culture.
The wax is made of waxed cotton, but as they wanted a lighter fabric, the two women turned to satin. The parts are made in Togo. “We work with craftsmen, it’s done by hand,” says Gisèle Banodji. We produce in small quantities since each piece is made individually and it takes time. “Each dress is unique,” says Naomie Kamuanya.
The patterns vary according to the collections. “Almost every year there are new loincloth patterns coming out. We look at what is offered on the African market, what loincloth is in vogue, the themes, and if it adapts to what we do, says Gisèle Banodji. There are abstract patterns, patterns that represent the daily lives of locals and other politicized people. » For those who are not used to colorful patterns, more sober models are also available.
Mental health: bags that have an effect
IMAGE FROM PONY’S FACEBOOK PAGE
Pony’s Infinite Emotions shop bags now display the Suicide Action Montreal phone number.
Artist Gabrielle Laïla Tittley, aka Pony, has decided not to promote her business on bags from her clothing store, Infinite Emotions. She now devotes this advertising window to suicide prevention. The one who regularly talks about mental health through her works and on social networks has obtained the agreement of Suicide Action Montreal to display the number of her telephone line on her bags. “I want every passerby who meets someone with a bag to become aware of the resource”, if necessary, she explained on social networks. “With everything going on, it would be completely abnormal not to feel sad or lonely at times. But don’t keep it indoors. Please, don’t keep this darkness to yourself for too long. “There’s light all over the place, I promise.” It just takes a little help finding it sometimes. Thanks, Pony.