Nicole Camphaug facts for kids
Nicole Camphaug is a talented fashion and jewellery designer from Nunavut, Canada. She is an Inuk artist, which means she is a member of the Indigenous people of the Arctic. Nicole is famous for creating stylish shoes and other modern fashion items using sealskin. Her brand is called ENB Artisan, and she runs it with her husband.
Nicole takes regular shoes and covers them with beautiful sealskin. She also adds decorations made from traditional animal materials like caribou (reindeer), muskox (a large Arctic animal), and narwhal (a whale with a long tusk). The sealskins she uses come from Labrador. Besides shoes, Nicole also designs jewellery using bone, tusk, and similar natural materials.
Early Life and Inspiration
Nicole Camphaug grew up in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. She learned to sew when she was very young. At first, she mostly made traditional Inuit clothing like warm parkas and hats for her family and friends.
In 2015, Nicole had a creative idea. She took some leftover sealskin and attached it to an old pair of her boots. She shared photos of her new boots on her Facebook page. People loved them! This positive feedback encouraged her to make more, and soon she started selling her unique creations.
Promoting Inuit Culture
Nicole sees her work as a way to share and celebrate Inuit culture and fashion. She also wants to show how beautiful and useful sealskin products can be. In an interview, she mentioned that she especially enjoys making high heels and dress shoes. This allows people to wear sealskin fashion even outside of winter, without feeling too warm.
Achievements and Recognition
Nicole Camphaug's designs have gained attention in the art and fashion world.
- One of her pairs of heels is kept in the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada.
- In 2016, a pair of her high heels was part of an art show called Floe Edge. This exhibition featured Inuit art and design.
- In 2019, Nicole provided accessories for outfits shown at the Upingaksaaq Fashion Show in Iqaluit, which highlighted Inuit designers.
- In 2021, ENB Artisan was a finalist for the main award at the Pow Wow Pitch. This competition supports Indigenous Canadian business owners.
See also
- Victoria Kakuktinniq
- First Nations fashion
