National Indigenous Peoples Day is June 21st, which is set to recognize and celebrate all of the wonderful cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada. With that being said, it’s our job to also support in every way that we can. There are a bunch of Indigenous-owned businesses and brands to shop, and many directly help the communities. Browse some of our favourite Indigenous-owned brands to support now and going forward!
Here are Indigenous-owned businesses to check out right now.
Cheekbone Beauty
Cheekbone Beauty is an Indigenous-owned and founded Canadian beauty brand that is based in the Niagara Region. The company’s mission is to create eco-friendly, vegan, and sustainable beauty products while empowering Indigenous youth along the way. A large focus of the brand is to invent ways to eliminate single-use plastic packaging and continue to create sustainable products. To see a company so involved in creating a happy and healthier planet is truly inspiring.
Birch Bark Coffee Company
Since 2018, Birch Bark has been serving certified organic, Fair Trade, SPP (grown and produced by farmers that are of Indigenous descent) certified coffee. It focuses on creating a way to give leadership to these small farmers in global trade. So every time you purchase from Birch Bark, you’re giving support to Indigenous peoples and families across Canada.
SECTION 35
SECTION35 is an indigenous-owned streetwear brand that’s based on the territories of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The founder and creative designer, Justin Louis, forms the past with the present and finds inspiration in the juxtaposition between these elements. SECTION 35 was founded with the intention to use art and fashion to tell peoples’ stories. Recently, the brand collaborated with Roots on a collection, released at the 2024 Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival, that blends athletics and culture for a capsule that will last for generations.
Indigo Arrows
The founder of Indigo Arrows, Destiny Seymour, began the company by designing textiles that respectfully reflect local Manitobian Indigenous peoples and their history. Indigo Arrows now offers a diverse collection of table linens, pillows, blankets, and more, with patterns from Indigenous pottery and bone tools that are over 3000 years old!
TPMOCS
TPMOCS offers adorable mocs for little ones in a handful of colorways. The company was created by Maria Running Fisher Jones on the fact that everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed, and with a massive unemployment rate in her homeland, she wanted to make a change. With every purchase, TPMOCS takes meaningful action to address poverty and provide employment opportunities and resources to Native American communities in need.
B. Yellowtail
Looking for some super chic and meaningful pieces to add to your wardrobe? B. Yellowtail is definitely one to keep on your radar. The owner, Bethany Yellowtail, is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation, and proudly hails from the Mighty Few District of the Crow Nation (Southeastern Montana). The company’s brand initiative is to support Native Americans, First Nations, and Indigenous entrepreneurs. It aims to share the beautiful and authentic Indigenous design with the entire world.
Thunder Voice Hot Co.
ThunderVoice Hat Co. carries on the lineage of Native Fashion that emerged from a collaboration of cultures. Its iconic and popular Navajo Brim hat has actually been a design from many, many years ago and is a reminder of past generations. Every single hat is hand-sourced and steamed and shaped in-house. “Each hat holds stories, purpose, and the hope that you wear it with pride and meaning“—TVHC.
Wildcraft
Wildcraft is an indigenous-owned skincare brand founded by Laura Whitaker. With a mission to provide natural and effective skincare that makes you feel beautiful, Wildcraft creates products that provide a holistic and natural experience, bringing the transformative power of nature to your everyday routine. Plus, the brand firmly believes that exceptional skincare should be inclusive, so each meticulously crafted product is priced affordably under $45!
Manitobah Mukluks
As a young Métis entrepreneur, Sean McCormick began Manitobah Mukluks with the vision of creating a successful company while benefiting his community. The business has since grown into a global, B-certified brand, offering Indigenous-designed footwear, such as mukluks and moccasins, to the world. Mukluks and moccasins were originally created over 10,000 years ago to keep Indigenous people warm. To this day, all of the brand’s designs honour and continue the history of innovation, craftsmanship, and beauty.
Lesley Hampton
Lesley Hampton is an Anishinaabe artist and fashion designer who focuses on mental wellness and body neutrality in fashion through the lens of the Indigenous worldview. Her self-titled brand offers a variety of styles, from special event wear to everyday athleisure. Her contemporary designs with an indigenous flare are truly breathtaking!
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Foot Locker Canada is welcoming Indigenous-owned streetwear brand Section 35 into its stores, Retail Insider reports.
Foot Locker has a program called Home Grown, which is a platform that connects and showcases up-and-coming streetwear designers throughout the nation – and its newest addition is Section 35!
Section 35 is an indigenous-owned streetwear brand based in Vancouver and was founded by Justin Louis, who is a member of the Samson Cree Nation. He launched the Section 35 brand in 2016 with the intention of using art and fashion to tell his peoples’ stories.
The brand’s name Section 35 comes from the part of the Canadian Constitution that recognizes and affirms Indigenous and Treaty rights in Canada, Section 35.
Justin Louis says; “This collection features a lineup of ready-to-wear staples from bomber jackets, hoodies, tees, and cargo pants. I am always moved when we compare the past, the present, and future. The graphics are inspired by my exploration around the imagery of the past and my internal dialogue around imagery that can be found in the public domain including some of my own ancestors’ imagery,”.
The entry into Foot Locker is a huge step for the Section 35 brand, as it will expose it to a larger audience not only online, but also in-store.
You can shop Section 35 at footlocker.ca and in stores at Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Ottawa, and Halifax Foot Locker locations.
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This Spring, we will be excited to welcome the inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto. It will be showcasing the most progressive Indigenous-made fashion, crafts, and textiles around Canada, with 23 artists and designers from Nunavut to Greenland. The IFWTO is set to take place from May 31st until June 3rd at the Harbourfront Centre.
The four-day multi-platform festival, founded by Dene artist Sage Paul, will also feature panels, lectures and hands-on workshops for such things as Indigo Dyeing (Tuscarora Nation) and Navajo Rug Weaving. IFWTO is committed to exploring the deep connections between mainstream fashion, Indigenous art, and traditional practice by presenting it to broad audiences and industries. It presents and showcases, curated exhibitions, artist talks, panels, lectures, hands-on workshops, and a trade and consumer marketplace, programming 60% or more Indigenous women artists and their works in fashion, textiles and craft.
A marketplace with more than 40 vendors will also be on site, with fashion, food, cosmetics, lifestyle products and more by Indigenous female artists from Canada, the U.S and beyond.
“Indigenous fashion can redefine mainstream fashion and art: our fashion illustrates our stories, traditions, sovereignty and resiliency,” said Paul in a press release issued Thursday. “IFWTO is about carving out space for Indigenous fashion, craft and textiles.”
Further programming details and an in-detail schedule will be announced in the coming weeks, according to IFWTO. Join their email list to get up-to-date information about registration, programming, artists, and events.
Featured Image: Instagram/@IFWtoronto
Are you going to check out the Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto?