Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week 2022
byVancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW) returns for its third edition, with the goal of rekindling joy in the face of grief. New collections from 32 Indigenous fashion designers from across Turtle Island (North America) will be worn down the runway by models of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit descent.
Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week
- When: November 28 to December 2, 2022
- Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton St, Vancouver)
- Tickets: Available online now
In between shows, guests can shop for gifts from Indigenous vendors and enjoy musical performances by The Wolfpack, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Soul Shakers, DJ O Show, DJ Kookum, and more. Full program and tickets are available on Nov. 7 at
“For the Indigenous community, the last two years has been marked by grief. We lost many cherished elders and the gruesome legacy of residential schools saturated everything, so we decided to focus this year’s VIFW on joy and celebration,” said Joleen Mitton, founder and co-producer of VIFW and All My Relations Indigenous Society, the nonprofit organization behind the event. “We hope that everyone who attends will feel festive to be in community, and see us triumphant. We’ve been here since time immemorial, and we’re still here.”
Program Highlights
Red Dress
November 28, 2022 at 8:00pm | Get tickets
As in previous editions, VIFW launches its opening night with the Red Dress Event, hosted by Lorelei Williams, founder of Butterflies in Spirit. Guests are encouraged to wear red in honour of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ community.
All My Relations
November 29, 2022 at 7:00pm | Get tickets
For the second evening, designers from across Turtle Island show up and show out. Traditional practices mix with contemporary aesthetics in the magnificent pieces from emerging and established Indigenous designers.
Indigenous Future
November 30, 2022 at 7:00pm | Get tickets
Indigenous Futurism advocates for Indigenous sovereignty. At the intersection of Indigenous artistic practice, contemporary storytelling, and pop culture, shaping a future of that centres Indigenous ways of being and knowing, and Indigenous joy.
Spirit of the West Coast
December 1, 2022 at 7:00pm | Get tickets
The final night of VIFW, where designs with a signature West Coast spirit are celebrated. Be filled with the spirit of the West Coast as you celebrate the uniqueness of this land through incredible designs.
Van Vogue Jam Supernatural Kiki Ball
December 2, 2022 at 6:00pm | Get tickets
Van Vogue Jam, hosted by Indigenous leader Khelsilem Tl’aḵwasiḵ̓an Sxwchálten, closes VIFW with a vogue ball, featuring drag and catwalk battles for trophies, prizes, and glory.
Artisan Market & More
From its inception in 2017, VIFW has proudly showcased contemporary Indigenous regalia that highlights awe-inspiring works of Indigenous artists and designers in the traditional Coast Salish territory. VIFW will feature a robust artisan market with 40 vendors with jewelry, clothing, beauty products and other handcrafted goods, in time for the holiday gift-giving season.
“Promoting cultural appreciation and uplifting Indigenous designers on a global stage is at the heart of what motivates us at VIFW. It’s our duty to share our teachings to honour our ancestors, where we create a path towards understanding the designers. Our ways and art will not be lost,” said Himikalas, Pam Baker, Squamish / Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw fashion designer and co-producer of VIFW.
VIFW established the Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week Mentorship Program, which provides 16 Indigenous youth and young adults a path to meaningful, fulfilling employment in event production, over the course of eight weeks. Now in its second year, this employment training program enables mentees to connect with Indigenous culture and ceremony through fashion, in a way that breaks intergenerational trauma and cycles of disconnection, child welfare, internalized racism and loss of culture.
“Mentorship is important in our culture. I am so grateful that my mentor, Pam Baker, has joined me as co-producer this year. I am benefitting from her 30+ years of experience in the fashion industry, and in turn, I am honoured to continue paying-it-forward by formalizing our long-standing Mentorship Program,” said Mitton, who is of Plains Cree, French, and Scottish heritage. “Fashion is a particularly powerful way for young Indigenous people to connect and reconnect with their heritage. It’s healing for Indigenous youth and young adults to be part of creating something that is meaningful to them, while having the opportunity to build marketable job and life skills.”
This year, VIFW also formed the Wisdom Circle to support the development and maintenance of a culturally safe, respectful, and responsible planning process and event that centers equity by honouring Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh protocols. The Wisdom Circle is made up of Indigenous leaders from the three Nations. Members include Pam Baker; Alexis McDonald; Charlene Alec; Debra Sparrow; Kris Achie; Ruthe Alfred; and Maynard Johnny Jr, among others.
