Fashion designer April Allen, originally from Rigolet, Labrador, will present her creations at the prestigious New York Fashion Week on Sunday evening.
Indigenous models from Nunatsiavut traveling with her to Manhattan will parade to showcase the designs of her clothing brand, Stitched by April.
It’s like a dream come true to attend New York Fashion Week. It’s important to ensure authentic representation of Inuit and Indigenous models, says April Allen.
Open in full screen mode
April Allen clarified that she doesn’t often work with professional models, but definitely wanted to have indigenous models accompany her for New York Fashion Week.
Photo: Courtesy: April Allen/Alana Paterson
New York Fashion Week is a world-famous fashion event that takes place in Manhattan twice a year, in September and February.
In addition to validating her clothing brand and contributing to its authenticity, the invitation to this event provides opportunities to develop the modeling careers of her community, says April Allen.
It’s heartwarming to see all the progress in Indigenous representation, she continues.
Mother and daughter on the footbridge
Raeann Brown is one of five women from Nunatsiavut who will participate in the fashion show. This is the first time she will climb a catwalk.
When her friend contacted her during the holiday season to tell her that April Allen had her sights set on wearing her designs at New York Fashion Week, she couldn’t believe her ears.
Raeann Brown initially refused, overwhelmed by her professional obligations. She instead suggested that the team hire her daughter Billie in her place, and the suggestion was accepted.
Recently, Raeann Brown changed her mind and decided to take part in the event. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see her at New York Fashion Week, says the proud mom.
Mother and daughter will parade together in New York. A few weeks ago, they also did a photo shoot for April Allen.
Place for indigenous representation
On Saturday, April Allen’s creations shone brightly on one of the billboards in Times Square, in anticipation of the parade.
Open in full screen mode
April Allen, in Time Square, February 10, 2024.
Photo: Courtesy: April Allen/Alana Paterson
Some of the designs she will be showing on Sunday evening have already been shown at the most recent Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW), but others are new.
Since she sews the vast majority of her items by hand and very little time passed between the Vancouver event and the New York event, April Allen says she didn’t devote much time to creating.
In order to be ready for New York Fashion Week, she worked tirelessly during the holiday season.
New items not seen in Vancouver include a sealskin dress, leather dresses and boots.
April Allen also designed an evening dress for the presenter of her show. It is a leather dress decorated with seal skin and silver fox fur. She is truly magnificent, exclaims the fashion designer.
She also made a pair of boots for actress Kali Reis, which the latter wore during her appearance on the show The Kelly Clarkson Show.
According to the report ofElizabeth Whittenof CBC
2024-02-10 11:17:00
#Inuit #fashion #designer #April #Allen #York #Fashion #Week
