The lifestyle brand's social entrepeneurship
program honours the legacy of Inuit women in Canada's North and is driven by its purpose
platform, HUMANATURE
TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Today, Canada
Goose's Project Atigi returns with the launch of the
2022 collection, designed in partnership with renowned Inuk
fashion designer, Victoria Kakuktinniq. Project Atigi – "atigi" is
Inuktitut for "parka" – is a social entrepreneurship program that
honours and celebrates the legacy, craftsmanship and traditions of
Inuit women in Canada's North.
Kakuktinniq joins Canada Goose as Guest Designer, creating three
limited-edition outerwear styles, benefiting Inuit communities
across Canada through Inuit
Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), the national representational
organization for Inuit in Canada.
Previous Canada Goose Guest Designers have included Chinese
designer, Angel Chen and Rhuigi
Villaseñor of RHUDE.
"Canada Goose was born in the North. We are committed to
supporting the people and communities of the region, creating
global awareness and understanding of their culture and
craft. Project Atigi has always meant more than beautiful
designs and donations, it's about celebrating Inuit heritage," said
Gavin Thompson, Vice President,
Corporate Citizenship, Canada Goose. "We have long revered
Victoria and are honoured to be
able to bring her story to life globally through these unique
pieces."
Established in 2019, Project Atigi has evolved and expanded with
each collection, while highlighting the heritage and craftsmanship
of Inuit, the original parka makers. This third chapter continues
that evolution, celebration, and appreciation. Proceeds from the
first and second Project Atigi collections totaled more than
$165,000, supporting regional
programming, education, employment and cultural preservation
programs through ITK. This year's goal is to exceed the 2019 and
2020 collections.
"ITK is grateful to Victoria Kakuktinniq for contributing her
immense talent to this year's installment of Project Atigi, which
brings Inuit style and ingenuity to audiences worldwide," said
Natan Obed, President of Inuit
Tapiriit Kanatami. "Our ongoing relationship with Canada Goose
helps to empower Inuit craftspeople, support entrepreneurship and
community development in Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland in
Canada, and educate consumers
about Inuit history and culture. Congratulations, Victoria, on your beautiful collection."
"Project Atigi is so empowering – for myself, my community and
other Inuit women. Sewing traditional garments is an important part
of life in the North. We are artists, we tell our stories through
our product. It's more than our livelihood, it's a way of life,"
said Kakuktinniq. "Bringing my designs to the global stage is
important because it celebrates, educates and inspires. I'm
grateful to be a voice for my culture and to give back in such a
profound way."
Kakuktinniq is known for fusing traditional garments with a
modern style. She brought this iconic approach to the collection,
bringing the characteristics of traditional Inuit garments – hoods,
hems and trims – with modern silhouettes. The collection's three
pieces, all aptly named after their designer, are created for
year-round pursuits, each with feminine details and flattering
shapes. The Kakuktinniq Parka delivers warmth and protection in the
harshest conditions, while the Kakuktinniq Down Jacket is a lighter
weight piece for versatility across seasons. The Kakuktinniq Jacket
is a windproof and water repellent piece for transitional
temperatures and everchanging elements. The latter styles were
designed to be layered together for added protection and
warmth.
Kakuktinniq's story is further reflected through the
collection's rich colour palette. Dark Jade
Green, Amethyst, Dark Azure and Black evoke the Northern
Lights, representing the night sky from her hometown of
Rankin Inlet. A bespoke tattoo
trim, created by her for this collection, also finishes off each
style.
"Inuit have a long history of traditional tattooing. The designs
and their meanings vary between people and communities," explains
Kakuktinniq. "This specific design represents key milestones in my
life, my strength and is a tribute to my parents and daughter, who
have always supported me personally and professionally."
Continuing its respect, appreciation and support of the North
and its people, Canada Goose partnered with Inuit women to feature
in the collection's campaign. Singer, Shina Novalinga; model,
Willow Allen; and actress,
Marika Sila are activists, known for
advocating for their culture and championing equal
representation.
Project Atigi is a part of Canada Goose's purpose platform,
HUMANATURE, which unites its sustainability and values-based
initiatives. The platform was born from the notion that humanity
and nature are reliant on each other, as everyone has an inherent
responsibility to give back, protect the planet and make an impact.
The platform underscores the brand's purpose to keep the planet
cold and the people on it warm. As a values-based initiative,
Project Atigi reinforces the brand's commitment to people,
communities and the planet.
The Project Atigi 2022 collection is available beginning today,
January 24, in Canada Goose's stores around the world and
online at canadagoose.com.
About Canada Goose
Founded in 1957 in a small
warehouse in Toronto, Canada,
Canada Goose (NYSE:GOOS, TSX:GOOS) is a lifestyle brand and a
leading manufacturer of performance luxury apparel. Every
collection is informed by the rugged demands of the Arctic,
ensuring a legacy of functionality is embedded in every product
from parkas and rainwear to apparel and accessories. Canada Goose
is inspired by relentless innovation and uncompromised
craftsmanship, recognized as a leader for its Made in Canada commitment. In 2020, Canada Goose
announced HUMANATURE, its purpose platform that unites its
sustainability and values-based initiatives, reinforcing its
commitment to keep the planet cold and the people on it warm.
Canada Goose also owns Baffin, a Canadian designer and manufacturer
of performance outdoor and industrial footwear.
Visit www.canadagoose.com for more information.
About Victoria Kakuktinniq – Owner, Victoria's Arctic Fashion
Founded
in January 2014, Victoria's Arctic Fashion (V.A.F.) is
an up-and-coming design label which fuses traditional
northern garments and accessories with a modern style. Started by
Victoria Kakuktinniq, V.A.F. has already established
itself across Canada as a
Parka brand favourite in the North. Victoria has showcased her designs at Paris
Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, and Toronto Fashion
Week. She is also the Winner of the 2015 Nunavut Trade Show
Business of the Year Award. V.A.F. designs are sold
throughout Canada and Greenland. With a unique look that embodies
Inuit traditional parka design with a focus on sustainability and
the use of traditional fabrics, furs and skins.
The creator of V.A.F.,
Victoria Kakuktinniq, is an
Inuk woman, born and raised in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. She has always
been deeply immersed in her Inuit Culture. Victoria
has been fortunate to be raised by a line of strong, Inuit
Women. Growing up, she was surrounded by
seamstresses. Her mother, grandmother, and sister all
used their traditional knowledge of sewing to make beautiful
handmade traditional garments for their family to help
keep them warm in the harsh Arctic
climates. Victoria was always so inspired by these women
and felt compelled to follow in their footsteps.
Following a traditional sewing course in Rankin Inlet, she knew she had found her
passion and soon after, enrolled at MC College in Winnipeg, where she would prefect her craft in
the Fashion Design and Apparel Production program. Victoria gained notoriety there for her form
fitting parkas, with signature embroideries. Soon after completing
the program, Victoria returned to
Nunavut and created Victoria's Arctic Fashion where she has
become a change maker in the modernization of the traditional
parka.
About Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)
Inuit Tapiriit
Kanatami (ITK) is a federally incorporated registered charitable
organization representing the rights and interests of over 65,000
Inuit in Canada on a range of
socio-economic, cultural, health, environmental and political
issues at the national level. ITK works on behalf of Inuit who live
in the four land claim settlement regions of Inuit Nunangat – the
Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut – and across
Canada.
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SOURCE Canada Goose