Karonienhawe Diabo (in the center of the photo) learned her trade on her own, with lessons from members of her family and her community. (Photo courtesy: Jane Feldman)
Sewing was just a hobby for Karonienhawe Diabo when she was a child. One thing leading to another, his passion became a career. In February, the Kahnawake resident took part in New York Fashion Week, where models from her community accompanied her to parade in some twenty of her creations, steeped in Mohawk culture.
“I want to educate people about our culture through my designs. I want them to understand why I use certain colors and images in my clothes,” Ms. Diabo says straight away.
She describes her aesthetic as an innovative take on the Mohawk style, both modern and traditional.
We find for example in his clothes the shells of the wampum, representations of clans of the first nations, the lunar cycle or strawberries.
“These are things that are important and symbols for us. The shells of the wampum were a currency used in treaties and wars, there is also the flint which represents the Mohawk people. Then, we have a ceremony and a festival dedicated to strawberries, so these are very significant elements that I use, ”explains the 32-year-old artist.
“I’m from another generation of seamstresses and designers, so I want to bring something new by paying tribute to those who taught me.”
-Karonienhawe Diabo
Ms. Diabo sees her creations as a way to transmit her knowledge and culture in multiple ways, something she considers essential.
“The only way to keep our traditions and our art alive is to teach them to each other,” says the one whose clothes are mostly handmade. Several days are needed to make a piece.
From a passion to a business
Ms. Diabo has been sewing since she was around 8 or 9 years old. When she had children, she realized that she could make a living out of her talent, while allowing her to be a mother at home.
“I was being contacted to place orders so I wanted to get my name out there professionally and social media proved to be the way to make it all fall into place. I managed to reach people from all over North America and it took off,” she recalls.
In 2017, the artist created her company She Holds the Sky, the meaning of her first name in English.
A few months later, a friend was looking for designers for a fashion show in Ottawa.
“I volunteered without really knowing what I was getting into,” says Ms. Diabo, laughing. I had about five songs to present. It was a big event. I knew at that moment that I wanted to continue and improve.”
After several parades, she submitted her application for New York Fashion Week. When the artist received a positive response, she did not believe it.
“I didn’t tell anyone the first day. I even wrote to them to ask them if they were sure that it was me they had selected, ”says Ms. Diabo.
She shares that it was an incredible experience, both for her and for the 18 models from Kahnawake. A dancer from La Prairie, Jean-Michel Dieket, was also there.
Native style
Ms. Diabo emphasizes that the field of fashion opens up to Aboriginal culture, welcomes it and gives it the place it deserves. She also notes that society is “waking up” to the appropriation that was being done by wearing certain clothes that turned out to be offensive to Native people. Symbols of First Nations culture are now worn and portrayed more authentically, she said.
“It’s nice to see that there’s even a need for it now. Many Aboriginal people want to see their culture on the catwalks and that also applies to Aboriginal stylists, makeup artists, hairdressers and models who come together. There is so much talent in our communities,” she shares.
