2024 Featured Artist: Himikalas Pamela Baker
CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS FASHION ON AMBLESIDE PIER
Amidst the picturesque scenery of Ambleside Pier, the Harmony Arts Festival proudly hosts Himikalas Pamela Baker, an esteemed Indigenous fashion designer of Squamish/ Kwakiutl/Tlingit/ Haida ancestry. Himikalas will showcase her latest fashion collection along the Ambleside Pier turned runway. The serene waters of the Burrard Inlet will be the perfect backdrop for Himikalas work, a unique collection that honours her ancestors and showcases West Coast Indigenous design.
About the artist:
Artist. Entrepreneur. Fashion Designer. Squamish, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw / Kwakiutl, / Tlingit ancestry. Owner of Touch of Culture, TOC Legends House of Design
Highly accomplished Indigenous Artist and Designer with 45 years of traditional
knowledge and teachings of her family lineage and teachings. Himikalas is a successful entrepreneur and owner-operator of Touch of Culture, TOC Legends Designs. For the past 31 years, she has garnered extensive experience in Fashion Design, Fashion show production, marketing, retailing, coaching, production and delegation of an array of art projects including the design of clothing and jewelry.
Since the age of five, Himikalas has practiced her traditions and culture, and utilizes these traditional teachings, incorporating them in all her designs and projects. It’s her lifelong commitment to continue to study and create work inspired by her ancestors.
Himikalas has been awarded prestigious awards, such as N.A.M.S.B (menswear), the Arthur Gilbert Award, the top award in evening wear, the 2023 Industry Innovator Award, and VFW. In addition is presently hired as a residence Designer at Kwantlen University, Wilson School of Design and has received recognition as a renowned First Nations Fashion Designer. In the fall of 2024, Himikalas was invited to be a residence artist at IAIA, New Mexico in the fall of 2024.
After receiving a degree in fashion design and, a BFA from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles in 1998, she returned to Canada to share her skills and teaching and continues to mentor youth.
Dress and styling: Himikalas Pam Baker
Poster photo: Georgie Lawson
Model: Talaysay Campo
Makeup and Hair: Hailey Park