These Cree designers were inspired by their families to get into fashion

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.

Tyler Moody is from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in Nelson House, Man., about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg, where at nine years old he went to live with his grandmother for a year.

He used to sit with his grandma by her woodstove and watch her sew while she shared stories of her past and cultural teachings.

“She taught me so much and she had that huge impact in my life to be where I am now,” said Moody.

Moody left his home community seven years ago to go to Winnipeg for work. He was the first out of his seven siblings to leave.

“I wanted to break that cycle of just talking about our dreams,” said Moody.

Moody said he was working as a youth support worker in Winnipeg when one day the organization he worked for asked him to share his knowledge on cultural teachings.

Moody said that’s when he decided to start a sewing class. He knew some from his grandma, and watched YouTube videos to learn how to work a sewing machine.

Moody said he came across a video of a lady making ribbon skirts, so he got some fabric, ribbon and glue.

“It took me four hours to make my first ribbon skirt,” said Moody.

“Now to this day, it only takes me an hour to do the work that I'm doing now.”

Moody said he often incorporates how his grandmother used to dress into his designs, where she liked to layer her clothes and always had pockets.

But he also uses the medicine colours as each represents the seasons.

“It's just something that really just makes a huge impact in my life and I will continue to do it because it's very elegant, it's very modern, and it's something that goes with every special occasion,” said Moody.

Moody said it's rare to see a Cree man doing these designs but said he is open minded to learn, to explore and teach himself more skills that are necessary within Indigenous communities.