Collection: The HAMPTON X WABANO Jacket
LESLEY HAMPTON to launch "THE HAMPTON X WABANO JACKET" in Collaboration with SCOTT WABANO, to inspire healing.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tkaronto (Treaty 13, Dish With One Spoon Treaty Territory), (https://lesleyhampton.com/products/hamptonxwabano).
This project was created, designed, and produced on the traditional territory of Tkaronto, the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabek, the Seneca, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. The “Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenent" is a treaty between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the territory and protect the land. Subsequent Indigenous Nations and peoples, Europeans and all newcomers, have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect.
LESLEY HAMPTON is set to launch THE HAMPTON X WABANO JACKET in collaboration with SCOTT WABANO. This collaboration brings together two creatives with the same vision: to decolonize fashion on Turtle Island, through storytelling, education, and awareness. Anishinaabe Mohawk multi-disciplinary artist, designer, and creative director LESLEY HAMPTON grew up with the nomadic identity of a Third Culture Kid, experiencing her adolescence in international communities and cultures. Since returning to Canada, she uses fashion design as a catalyst to reclaim and define her indigenous identity. 2Spirit Cree SCOTT WABANO grew up spending his adolescence amongst the isolated indigenous communities along the coast of James Bay, with little exposure to the fashion industry and progessive views. Scott recently made the difficult decision to leave his community to pursue his goals within fashion and create safe spaces for 2Spirit/Indigi-Queer Youth in urban settings.
The HAMPTON X WABANO JACKET is inspired by healing. Combining traditional Indigenous teachings with the modern luxury fashion of today, represents the struggle many Indigenous youth face of adapting to the modern and technologically advanced, Western world, while continuing to hold onto their identity, culture and teachings of their Traditional world, that colonialism has attempted to erase. The HAMPTON X WABANO JACKET not only fuses traditional Indigenous teachings with contemporary fashion, it also pays homage and draws awareness to Indigenous culture, history, teachings and adversities.
The HAMPTON X WABANO JACKET use of cones is inspired by the Jingle Dress, a traditional garment designed by the Indigenous Peoples’ of Turtle Island. The cones were used by Hampton and Wabano and incorporated them into a modern day Motto Bomber. The Jingle Dress was originally created during the Spanish Flu pandemic in the early 1900’s to provide the healing the people of Turtle Island needed. Today, during the current global pandemic, Hampton and Wabano invite society to learn, embrace and obtain a deeper understanding of sacred Indigenous healing practices, through their collaboration.
The HAMPTON X WABANO JACKET will launch September 22nd 2020. The jacket will be available for pre-sale purchase in Silver, Gold, or Copper cones, at https://lesleyhampton.com/products/hamptonxwabano at 2pm EST, after a virtual Panel Discussion during the RYERSON POWWOW! The virtual event from 1-2pm will feature panel discussion with Lesley Hampton, Scott Wabano, and Anishnaabe dancer, Brianna Olson Pitawanakwat, facilitated by Riley Kucheran.
ABOUT SCOTT WABANO (He/Them)
SCOTT WABANO is a 2Spirit Cree from the Eeyou Istchee region, specifically the Cree Nation of Waskaganish in Northern Quebec. Scott grew up in the Moose Cree First Nation territory, an isolated community on an island known as Moose Factory, ON. Growing up in a time of colonization, Scott often faced the hardships of being a young 2Spirit person, struggling to find his identity while also facing bullying and lateral violence amongst the communities. Although they lacked Indigenous representation, Scott turned to fashion and pop-culture magazines as a form of escapism from his life and from this, grew an admiration for the art of fashion and styling.
Today, Scott Wabano is a Freelance Fashion Stylist and is currently developing WABANO, his streetwear clothing brand that will focus on being gender-neutral, inclusive, and empowering Young 2-Spirit/Indigi-Queer youth. Scott uses his brand and platform to educate others on the colonial construct of gender, and how Indigenous people, specifically 2Spirit Indigenous people, express themselves with fashion. Scott is also an advocate for Young Indigenous Youth, serving as an Ambassador of Hope for WE MATTER - an Indigenous youth-led organization dedicated to Indigenous Youth support, hope and life promotion.
ABOUT LESLEY HAMPTON (She/Her)
LESLEY HAMPTON was a ‘third culture kid’ and her early life was one of constant relocation. With her formative years spent in Canada’s Arctic and Atlantic, Australia, England, Indonesia, and New Caledonia, added to her quest to establish a personal and cultural identity. Lesley defines herself through the amalgamation of her indigeneity with her Anishinaabe and Mohawk heritage, as well as her global perspective from her early nomadic upbringing.
Founded on the principles of inclusivity, identity, awareness and heritage, the LESLEY HAMPTON brand’s inspiration is defined by the characteristics developed from being a Third Culture Kid and critiques their application in present-day society in fashion, media and pop culture. The brand draws inspiration from notations that embody inclusivity and broader perceptions of beauty that leads to mental health awareness and body-positive advocacy.