Meet Lesley

Illustration: Salini Perera/The Globe and Mail

 Lesley Hampton (she/her) is an Anishinaabe Artist and Fashion Designer focused on mental health awareness, body positivity, and authentic representation in fashion, film, and media. She is the Creative Director of LESLEY HAMPTON, an indigenous-owned, size inclusive clothing and accessory brand based in Toronto, ON. She is also a signed curve model with BNM Model Management, and speaker on Indigenous entrepreneurship.
 Lesley has been described as “an important Indigenous face in the Canadian fashion landscape” by the Globe and Mail, and “Wherever her career takes her, activism and style will always go hand-in-hand” according to The National Post. 
Lesley Hampton is a member of Temagami First Nation, located in northern Ontario, and she also identifies as a 'third culture kid' with her early life of constant relocation. 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 Anishinaabe indigeneity and her early nomadic upbringing. Lesley has nurtured a passion for socio-cultural concepts, to help define her identity, and reconnect with her indigenous roots. 
Lesley has been an ambassador for equality, diversity and authentic representation of both beauty standards and culture within the fashion and media industries. This advocacy coupled with her artistic passion and ability naturally took shape through what is now her fashion brand as well as her personal brand. 

 

 

S P E A K I N G   E N G A G E M E N T S  &   P A N E L S 

2020 | Part 1 from the Native Women’s Association of Canada #pivotAndRoll Series. Entrepreneurs Crushing their Craft

2020 | Pow Wow Education Week | Lesley Hampton X Scott Wabano Collaboration Launch. Ryerson University FCAD

2019 | Ontario Mining Association - Meet the Miners Reception with Government Officials at Queen’s Park, Toronto ON

2018 | A film & conversation premiere and panel discussion with Straight/Curve to challenge society's Beauty Standards, Fashion Group International Toronto 

2017 | I am a Women #whyNotMe - "In Discussion With' Panel, StartGBC, George Brown College

A W A R D S  &   H O N O R A B L E  M E N T I O N S 

2020 | Fashion Impact Award, nominee. Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards

2019 | Premier’s Award, nominee, Premier’s Award for Outstanding Ontario College Graduates. 

2019 | StartGBC Alumni of the Year Award, recipient. George Brown College, Toronto ON

2019 | White Cashmere Collection, finalist. Cashmere Bathroom Tissue, Toronto ON.

2018 | Simons Fashion Design Student Award, nominee. Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards.

2018 | Mogul, recipient. City MOGULS, Toronto ON.

2017 | Telio Scholarship, recipient. George Brown College, Toronto ON.

2017 | White Cashmere Collection Student Competition, finalist. Cashmere BT, Toronto ON.

2017 | Supertalent of the World Season 8: Fashion Designer of the World Award (Best in Show),recipient. Supertalent Fashion Week, Seoul, South Korea.

E D U C A T I O N 

2017 | George Brown College. Ontario College Diploma with honours, Fashion Techniques and Design.

2015 | University of Toronto. Honours Bachelor of Arts, Specialist in Art and Art History. 

2015 | Sheridan College. Advanced College Diploma, Art and Art History. 

2012 | ACS Hillingdon International School, London, UK. International Baccalaureate Diploma. 

C O S T U M E   D E S I G N 

2020 - Present | Red Sky Performance, Costume Designer in Residence, Canadian Stage, Toronto ON

S H O W S   &   E X H I B I T I O N S

2020 | Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, “Tu Gh'el T'ilhn//Water Carriers”, Virtual Presentation.

2019 | Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, “The Best of Lesley Hampton”, Vancouver, BC. 

2019 | Toronto Fashion Week, “SS20: The Preface”, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON. 

2019 | Toronto Fashion Week, “FW19: Eighteen Seventy Six”, Gardiner Museum, Toronto, ON. 

2018 | CES Presents, “SS19: Foyer de la Vice”, King Edward Hotel, Toronto, ON.

2018 | Toronto Fashion Incubator, “Canadian Curated Collections”, Canada House, Trafalgar

Square, London, UK.

2018 | Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, “New Moon”, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON.

2018 | Toronto Women’s Fashion Week, “FW18: Lithium”, One Yonge, Toronto, ON.

2017 | Supertalent Fashion Week, “Season 8”, International Horticulture Goyang, Seoul, Korea.

2017 | Toronto Women’s Fashion Week, “SS18: Sticks and Stones”, One Yonge, Toronto, ON.

2017 | Vancouver Fashion Week, “FW17: The Golden Hour”, Vancouver, BC

2017 | Toronto Women’s Fashion Week, “FW17: The Golden Hour”, Waterworks, Toronto, ON.

2016 | Vancouver Fashion Week, “SS17: Mermaids of Yesterday”, Vancouver, BC

2016 | Fashion Art Toronto, “FW16: City Warriors”, Daniel’s Spectrum, Toronto, ON.

2016 | Vancouver Fashion Week, “FW16: City Warriors”, Vancouver, BC. 

F I L M   &   T E L E V I S I O N 

2018 | Cast member in competition reality show, S01 E03 “Cocktails Anyone?”, Stitched, SLICE TV

2018 | Garments featured in feature film, “Through Black Spruce”, Serendipity Point Films

P U B L I C A T I O N S  &  P R E S S

Vogue | Teen Vogue | Vogue Italia | Elle | CHLOE Magazine | Marie Claire | COMPLEX | HuffingtonPost | COSMO UK | Daily Mail UK | Allure | Yahoo Style | Flare | The Kit | USA TODAY | FOX | CBC | Globe And Mail | The National Post | The Social | Marilyn Denis Show | ETalk | Cityline | CreatorMagazine | Style Circle | Solstice Magazine | The Forest Magazine | Dauphine Magazine | LucysMagazine | Obscurae Magazine | Beyond Fashion Magazine | Atlas Magazine | Dolce Magazine | Vulkan Magazine | IntElegance Magazine | Jute Magazine | iRun Magazine | Fajo Magazine

Q U E S T I O N S ?

Contact me at info@LesleyHampton.com or by using the Contact form below. Looking forward to connecting! - Lesley