Background

International Indigenous Fashion Week Inc. (IIFW) is a diverse experience blending fashion and music from artists and designers from around the world. The stimulating and refreshing

production includes street wear, eco-friendly & sustainable fashions, and traditional Indigenous designs with a modern day touch. IIFW has successfully been a global platform for Indigenous designers in helping them break into the mainstream fashion industry. IIFW Inc. is a highly successful and widely recognized event, providing a forum to nurture and celebrate the fashion, modelling, entertainment, and event planning industry.

Indigenous designers, models, musicians, and event planners represent the various First Nations from all across Turtle Island, so it is important for IIFW to recognize the rich heritage and history that makes up what Canadian Indigenous culture is today. IIFW takes great pride in showcasing the distinct heritage we have as Indigenous people through today’s fashion.

Relationships First

IIFW Inc.’s goal is to help build and develop self-awareness, self-respect, and self- confidence of emerging Indigenous designers and models so they may share their talents with the world, as well as to encourage our Indigenous youth to open their minds to the opportunities and careers within the fashion industry. IIFW Inc. serves to promote Indigenous culture, fashion, art & design by creating greater public awareness of our diverse talents through multimedia, and by providing a progressive environment for our designers to showcase their collections. IIFW Inc. also provides a great opportunity for performers, video artists, visual artists, musicians, and aspiring event planners to collaborate on our unique events.

Born from Experience

Chelsa Racette (Reil) began her modelling career in 1998 at the age of 17, gracing runways in Saskatchewan, New Mexico, Arizona, NYC, and Paris, and appearing in various magazines. In 2005, drawing on her passion for fashion and her heritage, Chelsa—of German, Irish, Chippewa, and Cree descent from Nekaneet First Nation in Saskatchewan—founded Glacsy Model and Talent Management Canada (Glacsy) and 306 Fashion Week Productions Inc. to bring the vibrancy of modelling and fashion to the Indigenous community in Regina and surrounding areas.

Five years later, she launched the first National Aboriginal Fashion Week on Turtle Island, creating a platform for Indigenous fashion designers, models, entertainers, and artists to connect and showcase their talents. This milestone evolved into an international endeavor with the rebranding to International Indigenous Fashion Week Inc. (IIFW) in 2016. Since then, Chelsa has expanded the reach of Indigenous fashion globally, hosting events in NYC, Paris, and Cannes, with London and Milan scheduled for September 2025.

With over 25 years of experience in the fashion industry, Chelsa has played a pivotal role in amplifying the presence and influence of Indigenous fashion on the world stage. International Indigenous Fashion Week Inc. will to be the first Indigenous fashion event company to establish a presence in the “Big Four” major fashion capitals, further solidifying the growing impact of Indigenous culture in global fashion.