In photos: Red Dress Day fashion festival celebrates culture

Several people wearing red stand in the center of the photo. They all have their right hand raised and their fist clenched. — 2024 Revolutions Red Dress Fashion Festival. **Photos by Shay Paul**

Over the span of May 4 and 5, the Revolutions Fashion Festival took over the Northside Hangar at the Kamloops Airport in Secwepemcúl’ecw to celebrate and bring awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people (MMIWG2S+). The festival showcased nine designers and featured several live performances throughout the schedule.

Four women are standing at the end of the runway in long ribbon skirts. They are holding drums as they perform a song. Their right hands are raised in the air with their drum sticks.

The first day started with a prayer from Elder Carol Smith and a drumming performance from Women of Turtle Island. This all-female drum group is based in sylix territory and brings awareness to how art and culture can be healing tools. The hanger was filled with audience members and Indigenous vendors.

The photo shows models looping the runway after the showcase. There are three models in this picture, and the model in the center is looking a the camera with a wide smile and kicking up her right heel for flare.

The fashion collections ranged from more traditional buckskin work to more contemporary ribbon pieces like the work featured above from local and debuting designer Elizabeth Spike of the St’at’imc and Nlaka’pamux First Nation community.

A model walks down the runway wearing a heavy genuine fur coat and a black cocktail dress with black tights. The fur coat is two-toned.

The Revolutions Fashion Festival welcomed seasoned fashion designers as well as emerging designers. The work of 21-year-old Sierra William saw the runway for the first time on Saturday night.

The photo shows a dancer stopped on the runway as she looks into the distance. Behind her are lights and plants, and she is wearing a pink sequined top and a flowing off-white skirt.

At the end of the night, audience members were treated to an impactful ballet performance by model, dancer, and actor Dannicka Kequahtooway.

The photo shows five models wearing stunning and vivid red dresses. Two of the models are standing further back, and three of the models are walking towards the camera.

May 5, the second day of the festival, brought the iconic red dress symbol front and centre by starting with David Chen’s collection. Chen, the founder of the Vancouver Fashion Festival, also helped produce the show alongside event organizer Kim Coltman.

The photo shows the fashion designer to the far right and a line up of models dressed in her clothing. The collection ranges from more modern clothing to traditional buckskin regalia. The clothing is speckled with vibrant and bright patterns.

The work of Crystal Lang (pictured far left) was dedicated to her late husband, whose passion and support helped their clothing business thrive.

The photo shows dozens of people joined in hands for a round dance. In the foreground, there are three young children, with a woman to their left and a man to their right. They are wearing red under their jackets.

Before the festival’s finale, audience members were invited into the runway space to participate in a friendship dance while the Women of Turtle Island drummed.

Kim Coltman is pictured in the distance standing behind a microphone. There are plants and lights located on either side of her, and a large airport hangar door is opening behind her.

The organizer and CEO of Fashion Speaks International, Kim Coltman, shared her story as a survivor and why supporting Indigenous women and girls is so important to her. As the festival came to a close, she thanked the audience as the hangar door began to lift.