Backstage at the 2022 Indigenous Fashions Arts Festival(IFAF), award winning designer Niio Perkins was handling a few last minute alterations moments before her runway show was set to begin. Perkins, who spent months preparing her collection, is no stranger to the hustle of fashion and its demanding nature.
IFAF was held this past June at Toronto’s Harbourfront center. The festival, which is led mostly by Indigenous women, featured top indigenous designers from within the fashion industry. The four-day multi-platform festival included runway shows, panels, business opportunities and an artists’ marketplace where one could possibly acquire some beautifully crafted creations.
IFAF is an experience! The show featured over 25 collections from high end indigenous fashion labels and among them was Niio Perkins Designs – whose collection included stunning looks for IFAF’s Sovereign Matriarchs runway show. Perkins’ penchant for detail captured the attention of many as well-known indigenous model, TV host and activist Sarrain Fox, modelled some of her ‘Roles and Responsibilities’ collection.
“Grateful to have shared space with other amazing designers @indiegnousfashionarts festival in Toronto,” she wrote on her Niio Perkins Designs Facebook page.
Perkins reflected on the time spent on creating her collection for IFAF and some of the challenges she faced. “We can work through a lot, we can problems solve, we can hustle, — but a lot of energy and money goes towards working on this event,” says Perkins.
Perkins announced several weeks ago that she was packing up her shop – literally! After nearly nine years, Niio Perkins designs is no longer located in Akwesasne, however, the retail space that she shared with her mother, Elizabeth Perkins, will still house the popular clothing designs in store along route 37. “We’re taking time this year to focus more on design and productions! We want to feature more sizes and have more items available to purchase,” says Perkins, as she discusses her recent decision to move to Cornwall, Ont.
