Projects

Rights-Respecting Fashion Framework

• Overview

  • The International Indigenous Fashion Council focuses on authentic, respectful, and accurate representation of Indigenous peoples in fashion and media, and strengthens opportunities for Indigenous designers, makers, and related professionals through education, capacity-building, and charitable grantmaking

• Alignment

  • Aligned with globally recognized principles for the rights and dignity of Indigenous peoples

    • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

• Core principles we implement across projects

  • Authentic representation in runway, editorial, advertising, film, television, and digital media

  • Responsible engagement with Indigenous peoples and communities

  • Sustainability and environmental responsibility across the supply chain

  • Ethical labor and workforce protections

  • Supply chain transparency and responsible sourcing including Indigenous makers and suppliers

• What this page will include

  • Principles and commitments

  • Practical guidance and frequently asked questions

  • Tools and templates for implementation

Chapters and Sector Expert Network

• Purpose

  • Establish regional or country-based chapters and sector expert councils to organize local educational events, partnerships, and culturally grounded initiatives under International Indigenous Fashion Council oversight

• What we’re building

  • Chapters to organize local education and community partnerships

  • Sector Expert Councils to guide sustainability, media representation, supply chain ethics, production, education, and workforce protections

• What this section will host

  • Chapters overview and participation pathways

  • Sector overview, leadership, and work plans

  • Deliverables, updates, and public-facing outcomes

Sector work plans

• Work plan basics

  • Annual goals, timelines, deliverables, and reporting

  • Program quality standards and chapter charters

• Potential work plan ideas

  • Workshops and trainings delivered by chapters and sector teams

  • Media training and live coverage through the correspondence and media function

  • Supply chain mapping and ethical sourcing pathways

  • Workforce standards projects and safety protocols

  • Mentorship pipelines and cohort-based support

  • Show production standards and crew equity

  • Local showcases and convenings with integrated educational programming

Charitable Grants to Chapters and Sectors

• Purpose

  • Provide grant-based support for mission-aligned chapter and sector work, with documented eligibility, review safeguards, and reporting

• What grants can support

  • Chapter workshops, panels, presentations, and educational outreach

  • Sector initiatives such as sustainability education, media training, supply chain mapping, and workforce standards projects

  • Culturally respectful production capacity where aligned with charitable purpose

• Grantmaking governance

  • Application process, documented criteria, conflict safeguards, written agreements, reporting, and oversight

Workforce Protections and Union Exploration

• Purpose

  • Strengthen workforce protections and ethical labor practices across the fashion ecosystem, including exploring models for union protections and fair standards

• Initial focus

  • Indigenous Models Union concept and protections

    • Wellness and safety standards

    • Contract education and advocacy

    • Anti-harassment and safe-reporting pathways

• Expanded scope over time

  • Additional workforce protections across creators and production roles

  • Educational materials on ethical labor protections relevant to fashion workers and creatives

Fashion Seal Evaluation Program

• Name

  • UNDRIP-Fashion Seal

• Purpose

  • An educational, mission-aligned evaluation and recognition program encouraging ethical practices across brands, productions, and organizations

• Recognition model

  • Inspired by a Michelin-style approach with tiered recognition such as aligned, recommended, and top tier

• Core evaluation areas

  • Authentic representation and inclusion

  • Responsible engagement with Indigenous peoples and communities

  • Sustainability and environmental responsibility

  • Ethical labor and workforce protections

  • Supply chain practices and transparency

• Program design safeguards

  • Public standards and educational guidance

  • Documented review process with periodic reassessment

  • Conflict-of-interest safeguards and independence from private benefit

• Planned seal structure and categories

  • Baseline gating criteria

  • Multiple tiers and category pathways

  • Sustainability and emerging practice recognitions

  • Production evaluation categories that include pay and workforce practices

Indigenous Fashion and Arts Protection Act

• Goal

  • Policy education and advocacy to protect Indigenous cultural expression across fashion and the broader arts and maker ecosystem

• Scope

  • Protections relevant to Indigenous makers across apparel, accessories, beadwork, pottery, jewelry, adornment, and related creative economies

• What this section will include

  • Policy priorities and educational materials

  • Collaboration pathways with partners

  • Updates and progress tracking

  • Nonpartisan policy education consistent with charitable and educational purposes

Indigenous Arts and Fashion Scholarship

• Purpose

  • Scholarship program to support education and training aligned with charitable and educational purpose, with transparent criteria and documentation

• What we’ll define

  • Eligibility and selection process

  • Award types and covered costs

  • Accountability and outcomes

  • Supporter and sponsorship pathways

Magazine and Editorial Platform

• Purpose

  • A dedicated International Indigenous Fashion Council magazine or editorial platform highlighting Indigenous fashion, design, makers, and sustainability with a focus on education and accurate representation

• What this section will include

  • Editorial mission and standards

  • Reporter coverage of events through the media function

  • Features, interviews, and creator spotlights

  • Responsible storytelling standards and editorial guidance

Media, Film, and Industry Consulting

• Purpose

  • Indigenous-led consulting that supports ethical collaboration, accurate representation, and respectful engagement in media and fashion institutions

• What this section will include

  • Consulting for film and media productions

  • Consulting for legacy fashion houses and major brands

  • Training offerings and review processes aligned with the Rights-Respecting Fashion Framework

Fashion Weeks and Global Showcases

• Purpose

  • Expand Indigenous presence and equity in major fashion platforms while protecting cultural authority and community ethics

• What this section will include

  • Participation pathways for major global fashion weeks and showcases

  • Indigenous-led showcases and partner-hosted events

  • Production readiness, logistics, and ethical storytelling standards

Fashion Show Productions and Convenings

• Purpose

  • Support and co-produce mission-aligned events that create public-facing learning opportunities around representation, sustainability, and ethical practice

• What this section will include

  • Fashion show productions highlighting Indigenous designers and makers

  • Panels and educational programming integrated into fashion events

  • Convenings connecting creators with ethical production resources and educational partners

Partnerships, Recognition, and Letters of Support

• Purpose

  • Build formal support, recognition, and collaboration with cultural institutions, global bodies, and Indigenous governance leadership

• Targets and pathways

  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization support pathways

  • United Nations entities and initiatives

  • Sámi governance institutions and councils

  • Indigenous governance organizations and sovereign Tribal Nations

  • Letters of support from chiefs, governors, and community leadership

  • Museum, archive, and cultural institution partnerships

  • Written Papers proposals

• Academic Publications and Research Pathway

• Develop peer-reviewed journal articles, research briefs, and policy papers to document Indigenous fashion frameworks and ethical practice, and to support education and global dialogue through academic and United Nations-aligned publication channels

Fundraising and Supporters Circle

• Purpose

  • Build sustainable funding for operations, programs, chapter and sector delivery, and charitable grantmaking

• What this section will include

  • Supporters Circle overview and engagement

  • Sponsorship pathways aligned with mission

  • How funding supports projects and infrastructure