How Sage Paul Is Bringing Indigenous Talent to Milan Fashion Week

The designers offer a diverse glimpse into the Indigenous fashion community, from the traditional to the unconventional. “We really wanted to make sure that there was representation of the three umbrellas of Indigenous people [in Canada]: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis,” says Paul. “It’s a strong representation of what it means to be Indigenous.” Labels like Evan Ducharme (Métis) and Section 35’s Justin Louis (Cree) are offering contemporary takes on traditional Indigenous motifs, whether it be woven dresses or bomber jackets. Robyn McLeod (Dene/Métis) and Niio Perkins (Mohawk) specialize in more traditional styles of beadwork and jewelry. 

While they range in aesthetics, Paul says they’re unified by a strong sense of identity. “Everyone feels very strongly in how they express their Indigeneity,” says Paul. “We get to show a big scope of what it is to be Indigenous, and what people are making and wearing.”

Compared to showcasing their new collections on the Milanese runways, Paul says there’s a certain power in going the trade show route. “There’s more time to build relationships,” says Paul. “Doing a show is a huge amount of work and it’s a huge expense; At trade shows, people are there specifically to buy.” Paul hopes to foster the designers in more of a business sense, giving them an opportunity to network and sell their work to prospective new clients. 

“I hope this is a market that will give them that space to make the money that they want to—and should—make for their [work],” says Paul. “A lot of designers have bread and butter pieces that keep them going, but their couture or one-of-a-kind pieces are so important.” To support the group, Paul is also bringing designer Dorathy Wright as a mentor—an artist based out of the Northwest Territories known for her quilts and fur work. “[She has] basic industry knowledge that’s important to bring back to the community.”

In tandem with the White Milano showcase, Paul and the designers will also be engaging in a special panel discussion at the event. They hope to educate buyers and attendees about Indigenous fashion, and to introduce them to some of the core design values within the community (sustainability, and designs rooted in heritage, come to mind). “They don’t know much about our communities [in Europe],” says Paul, “so there’s a lot of education to be done around understanding what fashion is from Indigenous communities, and how to work with Indigenous people.”