Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition and non-profit organization supporting emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced a partnership with Aritzia, the global fashion retailer and design house, to launch and award Aritzia Indigenous Fashion Grants to six emerging Indigenous fashion entrepreneurs.
Recognizing the growth of Indigenous fashion businesses and brands, Pow Wow Pitch launched a Fashion Category this year as part of its flagship Pitch Competition.
As part of Aritzia’s commitment to actively work towards reconciliation, Aritzia reached out to Pow Wow Pitch to kick off a partnership to support Indigenous Fashion entrepreneurs and businesses with Grants to acknowledge and support their achievements and ambitions.
This evening, Pow Wow Pitch announced that Aritzia would award $2,500 grants to each Pow Wow Pitch Fashion Category Winner and $1,000 grants to three additional Pow Wow Pitch Fashion Semi-Finalists to support these emerging Indigenous-owned fashion businesses to grow with a community rallying for their success.
The 2022 Recipients of the Aritzia Indigenous Fashion Grants are:
Emma-Love Cabana, Founder of Three Sisters by Emma from the Métis Nation BC, operating from Vancouver, BC. Three Sisters by Emma creates beautiful, handwoven beaded jewellery inspired by traditional Métis beading techniques, a love of nature, and modern geometry.
Niiostoseraah Thompson, Founder of Small Feather Empire, who is Mohawks of Akwesasne, operating from Akwesasne, QC. Small Feather Empire is a collective of Indigenous beading artists that create heirloom pieces with imagination, colour and precision.
Taalrumiq Christina King, Founder of Taalrumiq who is Inuvialuit and Gwich’in, operating from Tuktoyaktuk, NT. Taalrumiq creates original Inuit fine art, Inuvialuit couture garments and accessories.
Trisha Pitura, Co-Founder of MINI TIPI from Nipissing Frist Nation, operating from Gatineau, QC. MINI TIPI designs and manufactures beautiful home and fashion products with authentic Indigenous designs to celebrate and reclaim art and culture.
Sean Rayland-Boubar, Founder of Red Rebel Armour Inc. from Sagkeeng First Nation, operating from Winnipeg, MB. Red Rebel Armour is an Indigenous-made authentic streetwear brand on a social mission to support reentry into the workforce.
Wyatt Miller, Founder of Sparked Apparel from Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, operating from Saskatoon, SK. Sparked Apparel by Wyatt Miller is a designer hand-stitched streetwear brand of one-of-a-kind original wearable art pieces using up-cycled materials.
“Thank you, Aritzia, for selecting Pow Wow Pitch as one of the community organizations you support in your ongoing efforts to work towards reconciliation. By listening, learning and collaborating, we have the opportunity to support the next generation of Indigenous fashion icons, brands, and businesses to inspire the growth of the global Indigenous fashion industry,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “And congratulations to Wyatt, Sean, Emma-Love, Trisha, Taalrumiq and Niiostoseraah for being selected as the first-ever Aritizia Indigenous Fashion Grant Recipients. Recognition by an industry leader like Aritzia is absolutely incredible! We know you will take this grant and opportunity to reach new heights for your business and community.”
To watch the 2022 Pow Wow Pitch Fashion Semi-Finals, click here.