An Inuvialuk designer expressed that her participation in Project Runway Canada was a significant milestone in her career and an opportunity to represent her cultural heritage. Taalrumiq, a designer of Inuvialuk and Gwich’in descent originally from Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T. but now residing in Vancouver, faced elimination in a team challenge on the third episode of the show last Friday.
She emphasized that her involvement in the competition was not just about her as a designer but had a broader impact on her nation, the Inuvialuit and Gwich’in communities. The Canadian version of the popular fashion competition, which premiered in mid-November on Crave, offers designers the chance to win $100,000 and a feature in Elle Canada magazine.
Apart from her appearance on the show, Taalrumiq continues to create designs inspired by her Inuvialuit roots under her brand, Taalrumiq. Sewing holds a special place in her culture, being a necessary skill for survival in Arctic conditions and a tradition passed down through generations. She learned to sew as a child, surrounded by her mother’s and late grandmother’s sewing work.
Her designs always reflect her cultural background, as she incorporates elements and influences from her heritage. In her debut appearance on the show, she showcased a denim look with red trim inspired by ptarmigan plumage and a hood reminiscent of those worn by Inuvialuit elders.
Taalrumiq is not the only Indigenous designer competing on the show this season. Little Feather Migwans, an Anishinaabe designer from M’chigeeng First Nation and Wiikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, is also a contestant. Migwans expressed the importance of Indigenous representation in contemporary spaces, highlighting the significance of showcasing authentic Indigenous identities.
Taalrumiq shared that she knew Migwans before filming began and cherished having someone who understood her without explanation. Following her time on Project Runway Canada, Taalrumiq will resume her master’s studies at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, focusing on ancestral Inuvialuit fashion. Although her journey on the show has concluded, she expressed gratitude for the experience and pledged her support for Migwans.