Dorothy Grant facts for kids

Dorothy Grant CM RCA is an Indigenous fashion designer. Her amazing work is known for showing the living culture of the Haida people. She blends traditional Haida art with modern fashion.

About Dorothy Grant

Her Early Life

Dorothy Grant was born in Hydaburg, Alaska. She grew up in Ketchikan. She is a member of the Haida people, from the Kaigani Haida group. Her family is part of the Raven Clan, from the Brown Bear house of Howkan.

Her family has special symbols called crests. These include the Two-Finned Killer Whale, Shark, Berry Picker in the Moon, and Brown Bear. Dorothy studied fashion design at the Helen Lefeaux School in 1987.

Becoming a Fashion Designer

Dorothy Grant started her career in the early 1980s. She began drawing Haida art designs onto clothing. Her first big collection came out in 1989. It had 55 unique pieces.

This collection was a huge hit because no one else was doing anything like it. Dorothy was the first Indigenous designer to mix traditional Haida ceremonial clothing with modern fashion. For example, some of her designs use the special tapering lines of the Haida ceremonial copper. This art style is called Formline art.

Her work quickly became famous around the world. She uses fashion to share Canadian Northwest culture with many people. After her first show, she was very busy with orders. In 1994, the Dorothy Grant Boutique opened in Vancouver, BC.

Some people thought she was "going commercial" by selling her art. But Dorothy believes that if products are made with care and represent Haida culture, it's a good thing. She thinks it helps create jobs for Indigenous people and builds a national identity.

In 1999, Dorothy received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. This award is now called the Indspire Awards. It recognized her success in business. She closed her retail store in 2008 and moved to a studio in Vancouver.

Dorothy continues to be recognized for her artistic talent and business skills. In 2003, she was named "Business Woman of the Year." In 2009, she received the "Individual Achievement Award." In 2020, her work was shown in a major exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Famous people like Robin Williams, Marie Osmond, and Susan Aglukark have worn her designs.

Her Work in Museums

Besides dressing famous people, Dorothy Grant's detailed clothes are displayed in 13 museums. These museums are in Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa bought her "Raven Creation Tunic." This garment shows a Raven myth. They also bought her "Hummingbird Copper Panel Dress." Both are part of their permanent collection.

Her "Seven Raven Button Blanket" is also in Ottawa. It is part of the permanent exhibit at the National Gallery of Canada. The Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, BC, has her "Raven Greatcoat."

Other museums with her work include:

• "Raven Cape" at the Museum of Vancouver in Vancouver, BC.
• "Supernatural Frog Button Robe" at the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, CA.
• "Shark Blanket" at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, WA.
• "Raven Chilkat Robe" at the Natural History Museum in New York, NY.
• "Raven Button Robe" at the Liverpool World Museum in Liverpool, UK.

In 2016, Dorothy designed a special tuxedo. Actor Duane Howard wore it to the Oscars. He wore it for the movie The Revenant.

Her Clothing Lines

Dorothy Grant has her own designer label called Dorothy Grant. It offers clothing for both men and women. Her designer clothes are popular with Hollywood and art collectors.

In 2010, she launched a new line called Red Raven. This was around the time of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.

Awards and Honours

• Member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
• Member of the Order of Canada
• Best Professional Design Award
• Winds of Change design competition – "Best Designer" award
• Voted One of 100 Most Influential Women in British Columbia by Vancouver Sun Newspaper
• BC Achievement Award for Individual Lifetime Achievement Award in Business
• "A Single Thread: Celebrating Native American Indian Design & Style" design award
• 2007 Eric and Barbara Dobkin Fellowship at the School for Advanced Research
• Royal Canadian Academy Prestigious Award for the Arts
• Asper Business Institute – "Business Woman of the Year" award
• National Aboriginal Achievement Award