First Nations designer from Manitoba included in Toronto fashion show

Indigenous fashion designer Lindsay King has never had a client return a purchase.

On two occasions individuals brought back items for a size change. But King, a member of Little Grand Rapids First Nation in Manitoba, has never had a return.

Now people will be able to see why at King’s first runway show at the upcoming Fashion Art Toronto’s 1664 Fashion Week, beginning Nov. 14.

Other Indigenous artists joining King at the Toronto event will be Jenn Harper, the founder of Cheekbone Beauty who is a member of Northwest Angle 33 First Nation in northern Ontario, and Lesley Hampton, a member of Temagami First Nation, also in Ontario.

They’ll participate in the onsite fashion and beauty retail boutique.

King has carved an unconventional path from social work to high-end fashion, blending her love for textiles with a focus on representation and fit.

Recently, her designs received a boost through her participation in the Myles Sexton Breakout Talent Fashion Competition for emerging designers to receive mentorship and funding for a runway show.

“I saw it posted on Toronto Fashion Art’s Instagram account,” King said. “And then Myles had been following me, and he would like some of my content.”

When she saw Sexton posting about the competition, she thought it would be an amazing opportunity “because fashion shows are costly to you as a designer.”

King’s journey to fashion began long before she entered the industry. A former social worker with over two decades of experience in supporting children and families, King found that her skills in communication, stress management, and problem solving seamlessly translated to her new career.

“There’s a lot I learned from social work that helps in business,” she said.

Her passion for fashion started when she was very young. She has a fond memory of being outside when she was four years old. Her mother had just bought her a pair of canvas shoes.

“I remember walking outside of the house wearing these new shoes, and I was so fascinated by them to the point I had to kneel down, and I was just touching the fabric,” she said. “I feel like I've had this gift within me since I was born. This is a gift within my soul because what other little four-year-old girl would be so fascinated with fabric?”

This transition was far from straightforward. After initially leaving social work in 2014 to study fashion design both in Canada and in Florence, Italy, King found herself back in her former career by 2017 due to a lack of funds.

However, in 2020, she received $150,000 from Canada’s Indian Day School settlement, allowing her to pivot fully to her fashion dreams. With the settlement money, she launched her brand, putting over $100,000 toward her first collection and a professional website.

“If it failed, at least I could say I tried,” she said.

King had another reason to persevere.

“The fear of living the rest of my life with my dream dying within me outweighed thoughts of doubt or failure,” she said.

King’s designs also focus on sustainability and Indigenous representation. She deliberately selects Pendleton wool, a U.S.-based brand with deep connections to Indigenous communities, known for incorporating Indigenous artistry into its designs and giving back through scholarships.

While some question Pendleton’s cultural appropriation, King sees it as a natural fit for her brand.

“Pendleton was like gold in my community growing up,” she said. “It was expensive, it was sought after. People wanted to have it.”

King has also challenged industry norms by using herself as her brand's fit model. As a size 12, she represents a departure from standard fashion sizing, which is often limited to sample sizes four or six.

Her focus is also on wool.

“I feel in Canada, there are no great wool outerwear brands,” she said. “We have Rudsak but their focus is a lot on performance material.”

Customers appreciate the brand’s focus on fit and quality, King said, which she believes resonates particularly well with her target customer, Indigenous women creating generational wealth.

“These women are lawyers, doctors and professionals within our communities,” she said.

King’s presentation consists of a 12-piece collection. She has merged advocacy, her 20 years of Indigenous social work and advocacy with fashion.

“It's a presentation to bring awareness to an issue that is big within our communities,” she said.

Fashion Art Toronto’s 1664 Fashion Week runs until Nov. 17 at 251 Queens Quay East in Toronto.

Tickets are available here https://fashionarttoronto.ca/