b'CHAMPION FOR INCLUSIVITYL esley Hampton is anFASHION FIRST when considering the stereotypes held Anishinaabe artist andFrom there, it came as no surprise to friendsaround Indigenous fashion and what people fashion designer, as welland family that Hampton made the leapthink Indigenous fashion is. In starting as the Creative Director ofinto fashion, enrolling at George Brownher brand with such a strong focus on her namesake clothing brand LESLEYCollege for its fashion techniques andinclusivity, Hampton says it was hard to HAMPTON, an Indigenous-owned, size- design stream. In her words, I knew whatchange the perception of fashion so early on. inclusive fashion line based out of Toronto.I wanted to do in the fashion industry andHowever, her brand continues to decolonize Shes the ultimate example of an Indigenoushow I wanted to make a name for myselfthe fashion space in the hope that other woman who has tapped into her culturalas an inclusive designer and really kind ofIndigenous creators may follow suit. roots to find success in a creative fieldinchange the fashion industry in that way this case, the exciting world of fashion. because Id never seen another brand orIts an honour to be given the opportunities designer doing that at the time, she says.I have with my brand, says Hampton. And More importantly, throughout herif theres only one thing we can do with this, successful career Hampton has remainedHampton wasted no time: she ended up[its that] I really want to pave the way for it a strong advocate for Indigenous entrepre- starting her brand in her first week ofto be easier for other Indigenous entrepre-neurship, mental health awareness, bodyfashion school, taking what she was learningneurs to come up in the fashion scene. positivity and authentic representation.during the day and applying it to her For her, a successful fashion career is notown designs in the evening. Within three just about making money and designingmonths, the hardworking designer hadADVICE FOR OTHERSbeautiful clothes, its about making a differ- released her first collection. As for advice for other Indigenous women ence, staying true to herself, and settingThat very collection showcased atseeking a career in fashion, Hampton a positive example for the many youngVancouver Fashion Week as well as Fashionstresses the importance of building a Indigenous women out there dreaming of aArt Toronto. This introduced Hampton tonetwork and finding mentors. In looking back at her own journey and learning about career in fashion as well. the world of runway and showed her howherself through fashion, she gives a nod to fashion, performance, music and video canIndigenous Fashion Week Toronto and to Growing up, Hampton moved roughlybe mixed together on a runway platform todesigner Sage Paul and the work she is doing every two-and-a-half years due to hercreate a sense of storytelling. She continuedin the Indigenous fashion space. That was parents jobs. She spent time in differentto release collections every six months,very impactful for me. To find mentorship regions across Canada, includingalways doing so with the runway show inlike that is really great, says Hampton. Alberta, the Northwest Territories andmind, wanting to make every release as Newfoundland, before moving abroadimpactful as possible.The second piece of advice Hampton has is at the age of 12. After attending middleHampton aimed to put on shows that sheto not be afraid to put yourself out there as school in Australia, high school in England,herself had always wanted to see, with alla brand and see where it goes. In her experi-and spending time in Indonesia and Newskin colours, all body shapes, and variousence, there have always been people looking Caledonia in-between, Hampton discoveredabilities on display. The goal was to firsthand the term third culture kid.showcase the diversity she saw in society It refers to children who spent theirand translate that through fashion and formative years in places that were not theirthe runway. parents homeland. Not only did this termRepresentation is truly at the heart of Lesley resonate with the way Hampton lookedHamptons work. That idea of authentic at the world, she would later carry theserepresentation, and seeing yourself in these experiences into her work. I really kind ofspaces, is so impactful on our mental health, explained myself to be at the intersectionand I think as the fashion industry we need between my third culture background andto acknowledge that and take those steps to my Indigeneity, and I tried to figure outinclude everybody, because theres so much what that means for myself through mypower there, she explains. fashion and design work, she says. Hampton eventually graduated from Upon returning to Canada at the impres- fashion school and became a resident at the sionable age of 18, Hampton was unsure ofToronto Fashion Incubator, an incubation what exactly she wanted to do. As someonespace that assists up-and-coming designerswith a creative bent, she ultimately madenot only with finding studio space but also the decision to enrol in the art studio andin expanding their team. Hampton credits art history program at the Universitythe incubator with helping her to establish of Toronto. During that time, Hamptonherself as a company, going from Lesley noticed that nearly all of her artistic worksHampton the person, to Lesley Hampton were in relation to what one puts on thethe brand.body, whether that was through makingIt comes as no surprise that putting together wearable sculpture, or photographya fashion brand is a lot of work, but asFashion designer Lesley Hampton showing how the body moves.Hampton points out, this is especially truein one of her own creationsOntario Native Womens Association55'