dorothy grant
Dr. Dorothy Grant C.M.
In early 1980’s Dorothy was a traditional artist. She learned how to weave, create spruce basketry, ceremonial hats and button blankets from her maternal grandmother Florence Edenshaw Davidson. She made regalia for dance groups which evolved into applying Haida art design in couture clothing. In the mid 1980’s, after speaking with Bill Reid regarding the art and Haida history, she decided to attend the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design located in Vancouver, BC graduating in 1988. This is where she began the fusion of traditional art and high fashion. Grant began to pursue a vision of building a storefront in downtown Vancouver which became a reality in 1994. For more than three decades Dorothy Grant has been interpreting Haida legends through haute couture, and being the first to do so, is now is now being called the OG of Native fashion.
She is the recipient of numerous awards, with her work featured in museum collections across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In May 2015, Dorothy received the “Order of Canada” for her contributions to Canada’s fashion industry and for mentoring youth through her example as a designer and entrepreneur. In 2023 her work is showcased at THE Metropolitan Museum of Art, NewYork City, in the Native American wing.
The last few years she has mentored young entrepreneur’s by traveling from village to village to teach the art of fur-felted ceremonial hats.
“They first must see the evolution of Haida art and its people and what we have evolved from. For instance, from about 1850 we were nearly extinct from diseases like small pox. Our population was decimated by 90 % from contact. And there’s so much that can be said for the period between then and now, our contemporary culture. It’s like colonialism, social oppression, and how we have overcome that Haida people refuse to be victims. Again, it’s about claiming what is rightfully ours.”
Dorothy's garments have been described as a site of intersection. They are a creative space where fashion meets Haida art, myth and history. Like art, fashion should not be stagnant, but be constantly moving to convey a contemporary culture. She continues to produce unique garments for her clients while running a successful online company where she manufacturers, wholesales, and retails her fine art couture while exhibiting her work throughout the world
“Yaagudaang” a Haida word for “respect of one’s self”.
“I can hear my grandmother’s voice telling us as children to be humble, be respectful of others, and always know where you come from. She was talking about Yaagudaang… This has been like a ballast that has grounded me. For 30 years, I’ve received great pleasure in designing clothing that make people feel proud of themselves and their accomplishment, sometimes the words transformational, feeling taller, stronger, prouder… I know this as my greatest achievement. I know my place in this world is about “Yaagudaang”.