4 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY FRIDAY, JUNE 21
DESIGN
Heritage by design
Destiny Seymour owns and operates Indigo Arrows, an Indigenous textile design and home goods company.
trading story,” she said. “We don’t just create something for the eye; it’s something we need to keep as a legacy. In the years that come, the story will continue to be relevant and important.” Talent runs in the family since Dandeneau’s twin sister Marie-Josée was recently awarded the Indigenous Full Circle Prize through the Manitoba Arts Council for her musical achievements. “My sister tours a lot and I supply all her outfits,” Dandeneau said. “She’s my best ambassador.” For Dandeneau, she aspires to create clothing that can be worn by everybody of every background. “The biggest question I get asked is if people have to be Indigenous to buy my clothing — and I always tell them no. It’s my story and I’m proud of it,” she said. “I love my heritage. On a bigger scale, I would love to inspire people to believe in their own heritage and to feel some pride in that.” Similarly, another local designer seems destined to share her Indigenous reflections with the world. Destiny Seymour takes pride in her Anishinaabe roots. An interior designer by trade, Seymour is also the creative force behind Indigo Arrows, an Indigenous textile design and home goods company. The company offers a line of table linens, pillows and quilts that are manufactured in Manitoba in small batches. There
BY JENNIFER MCFEE
LOCAL DESIGNERS ARE FASHIONING THEIR CREATIONS WITH A FLAIR FOR SHARING THEIR HERITAGE. A ndréanne Dandeneau, a Winnipeg-based Métis designer, creates eco-friendly clothing that makes a statement through Indigenous-inspired prints. Her label, Voilà Designs, focuses on ethical garment manufacturing and eco-friendly practices. “In my clothing, I work with natural fibres and I incorporate my Métis heritage designs to create a modern twist to Indigenous art,” she said. “Everything is comfortable, good for the earth, good for your body and created with a lot of pride.” After studying at a private fashion school in Montreal, Dandeneau moved back to Winnipeg in 2005 and launched her first company with help from Aboriginal Business Canada. Her dad, David Albert, brings his talents to the table by creating Métis prints for the company’s Heritage Collection. “He’s a retired art teacher and a great visionary. It takes him a year to create one print. The latest one is called La Flèche, which tells the First Nations and Métis
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