LESLEY HAMPTON IN CONVERSATION AT VANCOUVER INDEGENOUS FASHION WEEK 2024

LESLEY HAMPTON 

Lesley Hampton is an Anishinaabe artist and fashion designer focused on mental wellness and body neutrality in fashion through the lens of the Indigenous worldview. Lesley is a member of Temagami First Nation, and she identifies as an adult 'Third Culture Kid' with her formative years spent in Canada's Arctic and Atlantic, Australia, England, Indonesia, and New Caledonia. This amalgamation of her Anishinaabe Indigeneity and her international upbringing nurtured a passion for socio-cultural causes as she uses her work as a catalyst for research, conversation, and community building.

Named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Local: Toronto list and the number one Canadian brand to keep your eye on by VOGUE, Lesley has styled campaigns for the Toronto Raptors, modelled for Nike, created custom designs for The Toronto Maple Leafs, and has been a Guest judge on Canada's Drag Race.

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOTES FROM VIFW WEBSITE

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON IN CONVERSATION

It is Thursday, November 21st, at 5:00 pm. I am backstage at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It is show night, the second night of VIFW. The theme for the night is "All My Relations," celebrating community, relationships, and cultural resurgence. Tonight is dedicated to Indigenous, high fashion and couture. There is the vibe of hustle. Models in various stages of readiness are having their dinner. The environment is friendly, respectful, and exciting. Lesley Hampton enters the hallway, where I sit waiting, and she immediately remarks that I'm not dressed yet. If you have ever been in a fashion show or other type of performance, you know that they are partially fueled by nervous energy. I stand to introduce myself, and our eyes meet; she is friendly.

I am a huge fan, I proclaim. I have seen Hampton's work in two other shows and researched her brand. Hampton graciously thanks me. We sit down to have a conversation.

LESLEY HAMPTON

WHAT DOES TONIGHTS SHOW MEAN TO YOU?

The All My Relations showcase means all our relatives, cousins, friends, and the community coming together to celebrate Indigenous fashion. The representation of fashion you will see tonight is not just traditional. It is couture, high-end fashion that is contemporary through the lens of Indigenous designers. There is highly intricate beadwork and other detailed elements. You will see Indigenous creations that are focused on high-end luxury clothing.

TELL ME ABOUT THE LESLEY HAMPTON  COLLECTION YOU WILL SHOW TONIGHT; WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION?

Tonight's collection is our 2024 collection, Alkaline. It is based on the neutralizing aspect that fashion can bring to society or social media because many of these environments are very polarizing. I wanted to create a collection that is like a breath of fresh air for the people wearing it and the audience experiencing it, making them feel happy. The message is to neutralize negativity.

THAT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE LESLEY HAMPTON BRAND. CAN YOU TELL ABOUT YOUR BRAND AND IT'S MESSAGE.

The Lesley Hampton brand focuses on mental wellness and body neutrality in fashion, using an Indigenous worldview to guide its approach. I bring aspects of the community into fashion and sustainability, which is on par with Indigenous ways of knowing. When you think of high fashion or couture, you often think of one body type. I promote using all body types and skin tones on the runway. I design my brand for everyone to wear. I want my brand to be inclusive.

ALONG THAT LINE, WILL WE SEE ONLY WOMENSWEAR THIS EVENING? IS YOUR BRAND GENDER INCLUSIVE?

I have included one menswear piece in the collection. However, I don't call my collection specifically women's wear. I want to promote the idea that clothes are not worn by men or women but by the spirit of the individual. If you appreciate a beautiful garment, why shouldn't you wear it?

HOW CAN MY FOLLOWERS FIND LESLEY HAMPTON CLOTHING?

I am a Toronto-based designer, and my brand is available on my website. In the future, I hope to invite my clients to my studio for a whole fashion experience, especially for bespoke and custom pieces. My latest collection is my most accessible so far. I have worked hard to produce a moderately priced line, and what you will see in this collection is that it is priced from $87 to a top price for an evening gown of $1500. I know that not all my customers need an evening gown; therefore, I offer many options. The final look comprises separates, and you can purchase them for $200 for the top and the same for the skirt. This has been my most financially successful collection so far. I am proud to offer my clothes to a large audience, and while I am an Indigenous designer, I also encourage non-Indigenous people to enjoy my brand.

IN CLOSING, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

I just wanted to note that tonight's jewelry on the runway is from Inner Wolfe Jewelry, an Indigenous artist from Vancouver. I always think bringing others along with my success is essential, and I love to feature other artists.

  A REVIEW OF LESLEY HAMPTON ON THE RUNWAY

The Lesley Hampton Alkaline collection is streamlined and sophisticated. The designer's mandate to offer inclusive sizing is evident in the selection of suits, dresses, and separates. No stranger to dressing Indigenous celebrities, Hampton showed several red-carpet evening gowns. Capturing the needs of the Lesley Hampton client are short, sassy cocktail dresses. Lesley's colours for the season are a deep, rusty burgundy and shimmering gold. The designer also uses several prints and adds texture with sculptural flowers. A standout trouser suit in cream and burgundy is detailed with beading on the collar. The overall vibe of the collection is mix-and-match separates that blend seamlessly to create an elegant selection of wardrobe staples. Whether the coming holiday season or through the following year, Lesley Hampton is a brand that reflects contemporary style.

 

 

 

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLEY HAMPTON

LESLIE HAMPTON WEBSITE

INNER WOLF JEWELRY

 

IN CONCLUSION

Certainly, meeting Lesley Hampton was one of my highlights of VIFW this season. I have long admired Lesley's work and find her message of cultural awareness and inclusivity on point. The fashion industry is not always the most inclusive, so when someone comes along who makes that a mandate of their brand, it stands out. Thank you, Lesley Hampton, for your time and gracious reception.

MYSELF AT VANCOUVER INDIGENOUS FASHION WEEK

CIAO, FOR NOW, J. ANDREW JACKSON
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