Angela DeMontigny facts for kids

Angela DeMontigny is a Canadian fashion designer. She is from the Cree and Métis Indigenous groups. She is famous for using leather and suede in her clothes and bags. Her designs often include special cultural patterns like fringe, beadwork, and cutwork. She calls her style "indigenous luxury," meaning it's fancy fashion inspired by Indigenous traditions.

Her Early Life

Angela DeMontigny grew up in North Vancouver. In 1991, she moved to Toronto.

Her Fashion Career

Angela DeMontigny opened her first clothing store in Vancouver when she was 24 years old. In 1993, she won an Internship Award from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business in Toronto. This award helped her start her journey in fashion.

She was inspired by other Indigenous designers, like Dorothy Grant. Angela began to add more of her own heritage into her work. She launched her own fashion line in 1995. That same year, she moved to the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve. There, she started a clothing factory and a sewing training program called Spirit Ware and the Factory.

DeMontigny also started working more with leather. She said, "I love leather; it's in my DNA. I'm from a line of trappers and furriers." This means her family has a long history of working with animal hides.

Big Moments in Her Career

In 2010, Angela DeMontigny created the first Aboriginal Fashion Week. This special event happened during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

In 2014, she opened her main store in Halifax. Angela has shown her fashion collections all over the world. This includes events like South African Fashion Week in 2017 and London Fashion Week in 2018.

She was also chosen to be the designer-in-residence at the Ryerson School of Fashion. This means she worked closely with the fashion school. Angela also speaks out and supports Indigenous designers and models. She produces fashion shows that feature Aboriginal fashion. She also serves on the World Indigenous Fashion Council as the Head for North America.

Today, Angela DeMontigny runs a studio in Hamilton, Ontario. There, she makes custom-ordered clothes. She has also worked as a wardrobe supervisor for events like the Aboriginal Music Awards and Fashion Television.