Vina Wolf

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation

My name is Vina Wolf. I am Kái Tailé Denesǫłine. I have been sewing since I was a child. I remember waking up early and finding my Grandmother sitting in her chair sewing. I would sit and watch her sew while the rest of the family slept. I remember watching my Mother sewing at her sewing machine making our parkas.

Sewing has been a constant in my life and an anchor I could always rely upon for relaxation and a creative outlet. I decided to go back to school and study Fashion Design in 2012. In 2014, I graduated Suma Cum Laude from Richard Robinson Academy of Fashion, then in 2015 graduated summa Cum Laude to earn my Couturier Diploma.

I also had the opportunity to study the Canadian History Museum's collection of Dene clothing from the Athabasca Delta, my people's traditional territories. I studied the patterns, construction and workmanship of moccasins and clothing. I collect museum books of North American Indian collections. I love the diversity of design and construction. And just like up north, you can tell the origins of a work by design and workmanship. Fashion design has always been one of the facets of Indigenous life. I love the evolution of the designs from pre-contact, through the contact period and into the post contact period. The adaptation of new patterns and new materials into our fashion. I love working with traditional materials creating couture pieces.