Aboriginal designer Angela DeMontigny brings spectacular diamond & silver gorget to Fashion Week
Unique riff on Iroquoian regalia executed with flawless DeBeers Diamonds
March 2nd, 2010, Montreal: A silver/diamond gorget, UNIVERSAL UNITY, which debuted Saturday, February 13 at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, will be featured during Montreal Fashion Week. The Angela DeMontigny design was a sparkling addition to the Aboriginal Fashion Showcase held in Vancouver in conjunction with the winter games.
Crafted from three Canadian diamonds on loan from De Beers Canada, the gorget was inspired by DeMontigny’s Aboriginal spirituality but also expresses the concept of ‘Universal Unity’, by symbolizing the gathering of athletes from different races, cultures and beliefs for the Vancouver/Whistler Olympic Games.
The flower logo, comprised of four petals, represents the four races and cardinal directions. The outstretched blooms on the sides represent world youth growing up from Mother Earth and reaching upwards towards the mighty Sun. Seven hanging medals (also symbolizing Olympic medals) are inscribed with the Seven Sacred Fires or Grandfathers - Love, Wisdom, Courage, Respect, Truth, Honesty and Humility – the aspirations of all who wish to live a good life.
The design of gorget recalls the traditional, silver breastplates worn by Iroquoian Chiefs that were awarded for acts of bravery or honour and also as tokens of alliance with their allies during times of war. Breast plates were commonly worn by warriors of several First Nations prior to European immigration.
Derived from French "gorge," meaning throat, an historical gorget is a flat, platelike appendage of worked metal worn on the chest as a breastplate or pendant.
In the 17th, `18th and early 19th centuries this ornamental collar, often in the shape of a crescent and embossed with regimental arms, was worn on the upper chest and tied around the neck with a silk ribbon or leather strap. This item of military bling, fashionable among European infantrymen and officers, also became associated with some First Nations Generals and Colonels, such as the great Mohawk statesman, Joseph Brant, are depicted in the official portraits of the period.
About Angela DeMontigny:
Angela has established herself as a pioneer in the aboriginal fashion industry, and has used her extensive marketing and industry knowledge to produce international-quality fashion events to promote Canadian native designers within the mainstream industry. Her experience as a designer, manufacturer, wholesaler, exporter and retailer, along with her keen understanding and passion for this niche market give her the knowledge necessary to assist with establishing new markets for aboriginal culture products.
As the creative director for the premiere Fashion Nation showcase and a key member of the event committee, she accomplished twofold. First, she coordinated the first ever group showing of native designers during L'Oreal Fashion Week in 2004 to great acclaim and a flurry of media attention. Secondly, she also shared with native designers the opportunity to be included amongst Canada's design elite. Since that time, Angela has been instrumental in developing the Canadian Aboriginal Design Council, a national organization established to promote market and develop new markets for native designers, both nationally and internationally.
Angela continues to produce professional shows and events, which garner major, mainstream media attention. She recently sat as industry advisor for the Aboriginal Cultural Industries Advisory Group - a national initiative chaired by Heritage Canada, created in order to research, address and implement authenticity and protection measures for aboriginal cultural producers; is a voting member of Trade Team Canada, has been involved in aboriginal tourism marketing initiatives, and is a regular guest speaker on issues such as aboriginal business, marketing and exporting.
For more information, please contact:
Lee Arden Lewis
iKANADA Productions Inc.
Cell: 613.661.4078
Email: lee[at]ikanada.com
Click here for originial article from NationTalk.ca
