Nunavut’s “art of dressing warm” goes on display

A model wears a pair of sealskin boot covers designed by Mona Netser of Coral Harbour. (PHOTO COURTESY OF PRAIRIEVIEW SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

A model displays a sealskin vest at a fashion show Sept. 24 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Thirty models showed more than 50 looks featuring the work of Nunavut designers. ((PHOTO COURTESY OF PRAIRIEVIEW SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Sealskin items such as these were on display at a fundraising event Sept. 24 that the Winnipeg Art Gallery held for its Inuit Art Centre project. (PHOTO COURTESY OF PRAIRIEVIEW SCHOOL OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Few can rival Nunavummiut when it comes to dressing right for winter.

So it makes sense that if or when Nunavut fashion designers break into the southern market, they’ll do so on the strength of beautiful parkas and accessories made out of traditional Inuit materials like sealskin, bones and antlers.

And Nunavut fashion designers may be close to a breakthrough in southern markets after the Winnipeg Art Gallery hosted a recent fundraising fashion show, which aimed to celebrate “the art of dressing warm chic.”

Sherri Van Went, chair of the show’s organizing committee, told Nunatsiaq News Sept. 25 that the audience was “gushing” after the unique Sept. 24 event.

“I don’t think Winnipeg’s ever seen anything like this before,” Van Went said.

The fashion show, called “What to Wear This Winter,” showcased a mix of urban, traditional and contemporary looks, Van Went said, in an effort to raise funds for the WAG’s Inuit Art Centre project.

That project will eventually house the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art, currently held in trust by the WAG, and beCOME a community hub for the exploration and celebration of Inuit art and culture, she said.

The Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association partnered with the WAG for the show, connecting Nunavut designers with the show’s organizing committee, Justin Ford, NACA’s project manager, said in an interview.

“For NACA, this was a chance to show that Nunavut designers can compete in a southern market. And also to promote the sustainable use of sealskin products in a southern market.”

One of the unique aspects of this show, Ford and Van Went agree, was the single long runway, over 800 feet long, that wound through five separate gallery spaces, wrapping around a central skylight gallery on the WAG’s third floor.

“The 30 models ended up being pretty exhausted, it’s a long way to walk,” Van Went said, adding the one-hour show was attended by over 200 people.

“I got winded walking through it once,” Ford, who was not one of the 30 models, agreed.

The audience was treated to over 50 looks featuring Nunavut fashion designs, Van Went said, which included sealskin cuffs and earrings made of bone and antler.

One item that seemed to create a buzz were sealskin boot covers designed by Coral Harbour’s Mona Netser, Van Went said, explaining that the covers were like leg warmers that partly covered the models’ footwear.

“They looked sweet with heels … I think we’re going to try to bring some of those into the gallery shop,” she said.

Van Went said it is too early to know how much money had been raised for the Inuit Art Centre, but judging by the audience, the event was a success.

“I would say our audience was thrilled with the evening.”