Culture in Couture

How Heather Bouchier is redefining Indigenous fashion on and off the runway

Heather Bouchier’s passion for fashion was born out of necessity and a deep love of ‘90s grunge style. Bouchier grew up with limited disposable income, so thrifting and altering clothing was a way for her to make the most of what she could afford while still expressing herself through fashion. Always supported by her mother, she attended design school in the early 2000s, and launched her fashion career shortly after her mother’s death in 2011. Her first collection was created for Western Canada Fashion Week in 2013; since then, she has built a notable reputation through social media, collaborations, artist residencies, and local shows.

Bouchier’s first red carpet experience was at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) where Dr. Keavy Martin, now wife of Richard Van Camp, author of The Lesser Blessed, wore a royal blue floral lace gown created by Bouchier. In 2024, Darla Contois wore a Bouchier-designed gown when she accepted her Canadian Screen Award for Best Actress for her performance in Little Bird. The gown was produced using an upcycled ivory dress, with 3D printed shells and horsehair, attached by using sinew as the glue. Most recently, she was invited to participate in the 2025 Cashmere Collection, where designers are tasked with creating couture style gowns made entirely of Cashmere-brand bathroom tissue in order to raise awareness and funding for breast cancer research.

Bouchier’s interest goes well beyond dressing the elite; her work is proudly rooted in Cree culture, sustainability and family. “As I get older and raise my own kids, I’ve been wanting to bring our culture back and learn more about it through my work. Using traditional materials like horsehair lets me connect to my culture while still creating something contemporary and respectful,” Bouchier remarks. The interest in sustainability led her to experiment with 3D-printed, corn-based dentalium shells as opposed to the real (traditional) ones that had become too difficult to source.

Bouchier is currently the creative director of Indigenous Empowerment Fashion Collective which worked to launch Edmonton’s first Indigenous fashion weekend in March of 2025. The success of the event indicates that it will return and extend for a full week in 2026. Bouchier is also currently working on her ready-to-wear collection with the hope of sending it to manufacturing and retail. She recognizes that there has been a resurgence of Indigenous fashion as well as stronger representation in media which she attributes to a cultural shift as well as a focus on reconciliation. “We want to turn Edmonton into a fashion hub—especially for Indigenous designers,” Bouchier says. “It feels like now is a really great time for Indigenous design. People are finally taking notice.”