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Vancouver Fashion Week Presser 2008
Artifaax Presents “It’s About Honour”

Cree Designer Denise Brillon showcased her fun and edgy limited edition t-shirts on the catwalk at Vancouver Fashion Week, 2008. Brillon’s “Naturally Made in Canada” collection offered delicately hand crafted original artwork, set against eco-friendly bamboo fabric. Her local Vancouver company Artifaax, produces t-shirts significant to native culture while honouring a new environmental movement within the fashion industry. The specialized line is proudly produced in Canada and although small in scope, is proving to be large in impact.

The intricate, original artwork on Brillon's clothing, explain her growing popularity, both locally and abroad. Brillon is known for her tone on tone t-shirts with cropped ravens and sunhawks. Her hand-made jewelery and eco-wear can be found at “Destinations” and “Gifts of the Raven” at Vancouver International Airport. The designer behind the label views fashion as both a transfer of style, function and comfort, and a canvas through which she can bring her culture and customs to the forefront. Brillon presents her t-shirt collection with an array of “raw yet honed” clothing and jewellery that is reminiscent of First Nations regalia.

Brillon's show gave the Vancouver fashionista’s much to see and talk about, as this year's collection presented “It’s about Honour”, a tribute to Brillon’s ancestors by acknowledging their custom of wearing gifts and tokens of appreciation on their traditional clothing. “My ancestors were all about honour and one of the ways honour was bestowed and remembered was by attaching an adornment or memento to regalia or clothing. You could tell a lot of history about a person just by looking at their dress” says Brillon. This seasons’ production is a tribute to the peoples of Scotland.

Written by Alana Berg
MEDIA RELATIONS

THE BILL REID GALLERY PRESENTATION ABORIGINAL DAY JUNE 21, 2008

This year Artifaax celebrated Aboriginal Day 2008 at The Bill Reid Gallery in downtown Vancouver. People came out to celebrate with First Nations artists and crafters and Artifaax was invited to the Bill Reid Gallery to present their show ‘It’s About Honour”. Our model Maddy led the show with professional models Jamie, Danielle, Deanna and first time ramp models Amanda, Brooklyn, Dakota, Frankie, and Keri who had recently graduated from the C.H.A.R.M School program. The girls worked together making the show a professional production. We had an incredible team of professional make up artists and hair stylists who helped to create my vision of make up and hair.

I remember seeing the beautiful French faces of the Pierrot and decided to create a theme using that concept but with a First Nations twist to it. The make up artists used their exceptional talents to hand draw and create the west coast motifs on the models faces. The hair concept comes from my vision of mixing a French ‘up do’ with the braids customary in my Cree culture. Add in some feathers and ties and whollah, you have the “Indian Summer” look!! The clothing and jewellery is part of the Artifaax “Indian Summer” collection which is a permanent collection. Many special thanks to all who came out to make this show happen including:

Make up and Hair:Talysia Ayala,Lisa Mannas-Derbyshire, Robin M, Jessie, Hair: Kacheena, Danae

Back stage: Haven, Kacia, Marilyn

*Note: Many special thanks to the staff and crew of The Bill Reid Gallery including Deborah and Astrid and the special crew of photographers including GaryK and our videographer ‘The Bruce’. We are in the process of putting together a video of the show with a look behind the scenes.

C.H.A.R.M. School

This year I had the pleasure to be with a group of young girls who are part of the CHARM and the Roving Leader program. CHARM is a program initiative created by the Aboriginal Youth and Vancouver Police Working Group and was hosted by the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre. My role was to facilitate weekly workshops to encourage and promote self appreciation in my students with the goal of creating a fashion show production for the community. I focused on self appreciation classes to boost their self-confidence and morale to build a show that was undeniably a huge success not only for them but for me. This show gave the community a strong and positive message that ‘our girls’ are moving forward by creating positive opportunities for themselves!

I witnessed transformations that were unexpected and rewarding. All of these girls were strong and determined to go through the grilling preparation for the show which included hours of ramp work training and special workshops that tested their ability to ‘trust’ and special theatre games to build their confidence, determination and ultimately to create a special team bond. It wasn’t easy and more times than enough, I thought I might have lost a few girls because of my stringent demands and the obligations placed on them to be a part of the group. But in the end, all of that hard work set them up to present a show that was undeniably the most professional and out standing show I have witnessed with a group of girls who had never had any formal training. They put on a show to rival most! Although, many of the girls had never done any kind of ramp work….they stormed down the runway and held the awe and respect of their peers and relatives. I have had proud moments in my life but this show was emotionally healing for many and their success lifted ‘our spirits’ collectively. Audience members cheered them on and many parents and relatives were crying tears of joy at the remarkable energy and captivating spirit of these girls on the runway. They were a force to be reckoned with as each of them held each other up accommodating the ebb and flow of the production. It was a very moving experience to witness these girls come through not only for themselves but as a group… bolstering each other! Graduating class: AMANDA, BRITTNEY, DAKOTA, DEANNA, FRANCIS, JENNIFER, KERI, NATASHA, VANESSA, RANDY

Note: Many, many special thanks to Rebecca and Brooke for all the hard work you did to make this happen: Also I would like to thank my daughter Kacia for giving us your loving energy through the many manicures, facials, and pedicures you gave the girls: Edina, Jessie, and Kacheena for giving me your wonderful enthusiasm and special make up skills to help us create a distinct and professional show and a wonderful experience for our girls first time down the ramp: Marilyn you worked so hard along side me to create 50 different fashion looks for the fashion show productions we had that week. Egads that part was hard huh but we did it!!! Also my dear friend Haven for being there to support the girls backstage once again: And to Gary K photography for coming out and taking some of the girls very first professional shots!!! And specially, my heart goes out to all the people that came out to show their support to these girls including Kat Norris, Duane Howard, and Brookes’ group who performed a Hip Hop dance and the performers who also came to give ‘our girls’ their love and support …and of course the many volunteers who helped us present this at The Vancouver Friendship Centre. Aho!