Iskwew Maskosis
/Show Day
DAY4, APR 11
/Social Media
I am Amanda Longmore, a 36-year-old designer from Enoch Cree Nation, Alberta. I have a beautiful 16-year-old daughter named Kaiya who plays an integral part in designing career.
At the age of 6, my daughter fell in love with dancing Pow Wow thus my journey with sewing began. Growing up in child care meant I had limited access to culture, and sewing allowed me to reconnect with it. Sewing has also been an outlet for me to help me on my healing journey. I started small by learning to make ribbon skirts, which later turned into making dresses. I would like to thank Noella Steinhauer, for none of this would be possible without the help she provided with teaching me how to sew. Over the past few years, I have developed a passion for combining vintage inspiration with Indigenous art (such as beading). A lot of my pieces are created with fabrics that were created by other indigenous artists such as Jackie Traverse and Shannon Gustafson. Today, I like to think of my dresses as Indigenous Couturier.
The name of my brand, Iskwew Maskosis, was also the name that was given to me in ceremony. Because all my creations are a piece of my soul brought into fruition, it only felt suitable to use my spirit name for my brand. All my dresses are created to fit, as well as sewn at the time of purchase. My dream is to create fashion that everyone—not just Indigenous persons—can feel beautiful in while supporting an Indigenous business.
Thank you for taking an interest in learning about the joy it brings me to combine the past with culture to create something new for the future.
PREVIOUS COLLECTIONS
What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
My daughter’s love of Pow Wow dancing inspired me to begin sewing. I started by learning to make ribbon skirts and later began creating dresses. Sewing also gave me a way to reconnect with my Indigenous culture and became part of my healing journey.
How would you describe your design style?
The designs combine vintage inspiration with Indigenous art, including beading. Indigenous textiles and artwork are incorporated into many pieces, creating a style that brings together cultural influences and contemporary fashion.
What can people expect from your collection?
The collection brings together vintage inspired elements and Indigenous art, including beading and textiles created by Indigenous artists. The dresses are made to fit the wearer and are sewn at the time of purchase.
How does Indigenous culture influence your creative process?
Indigenous culture is central to the creative process. Sewing provided a way to reconnect with culture, while Indigenous art, beading, and textiles from other Indigenous artists continue to influence the designs.
Why is it important to combine vintage inspiration with Indigenous art?
Combining the past with culture creates an opportunity to bring traditional influences into something new. Vintage inspiration and Indigenous art come together to create pieces that reflect both cultural connection and contemporary expression.