Last week, Manitobah Mukluks announced the 2021 Artist Series, a collection of five exclusive mukluks designed in collaboration with five bad*ss Indigenous artists: Christi Belcourt, Jamie Okuma, Naiomi Glasses, Victoria’s Arctic Fashion, and Corrine Hunt.
According to Manitobah Mukluk’s Instagram, their first-ever collaboration with Victoria’s Arctic Fashion was almost sold out before the announcement (it’s currently sold out but there’s a waitlist you can join). Victoria Kakuktinniq, a Nunavummiut, born and raised in Rankin Inlet, has always been deeply immersed in the Inuit culture. The inspiration for Victoria’s design for the mukluks came from her ancestors, especially her mother and grandmother.
“As floral art enthusiasts and as a company trying to make positive impacts in this world, we are blessed with the opportunity to work with and learn from Christi Belcourt,” said Manitobah Mukluks about collaborating with the Michif (Métis) visual artist. Christi’s latest design takes inspiration from Métis floral embroidery and beadwork patterns.
For the third consecutive year, Jamie Okuma (Luiseno, Shoshone-Bannock, Wailaki, and Okinawan) has brought her art and fashion expertise and designs to Manitobah Mukluks. The company says Jamie specifically requested her earth-toned geometric patterns be printed on tan suede. “I wanted to change it up and have a geometric parfleche aesthetic, a more monochromatic earthy tone. This is a contemporary design I created and not tribally specific,” she explains of her mukluks.
Manitobah Mukluks finally had the chance of working with Naiomi Glasses (Diné), a talented weaver, model, and skateboarder. She incorporated her strong textile background into the mukluks and incorporated stripes and old-style elements such as Saltillo diamonds and four directional crosses.
Nearly a decade since the company first collaborated with Corrine Hunt, she brought back the raven design by popular demand. “Gwa’wina – the raven, fancy feet. You and the raven walk in each other’s footsteps, finding joy. This is my vision for your mukluks,” Corrine said about the design.
Shop the Artist Series 2021 here.
