Native Threads Profile: Sarain Carson

Ojibwe /Toronto
Dancer / Model / Fashion Designer

She’s intelligent, multi-talented and she’ll be representing Native Threads at cultural events, music festivals and fashion shows in Toronto and New York. At 18 years old, dancer / model / fashion designer Sarain Carson-Fox is a credit to her Anishinabe community situated north of Toronto.

Sarain has ten years of professional dance, including the Quinte Ballet School, the Canadian Children's Dance Theatre Company and the Alvin Ailey Bachelor of Fine Arts Programme in New York City, where she is currently refining her craft. She has performed at The Barrie Jazz And Blues Festival VIII, the 2002 Aboriginal Achievement Awards, and two summers with the Ajkun Ballet Theatre Company in New York City.

Sarain is committed to opening new doors and opportunities for other Aboriginal youths. When she’s not dancing or modeling, she’s busy designing and promoting her own clothing label—ReZolution—featuring culturally inspired, one-of-a-kind designs that range from tee shirts to formal wear. Native Threads will co-promote Sarain’s ReZolution fashion designs and serve as the brand’s manufacturing partner once her distribution channels are in place.

Sarain strives to make political statements through fashion whenever possible. She sees fashion as a great form of creative expression, and a great platform for reaching out to Aboriginal youth. “Through ReZolution, my goal is to help create a niche for up and coming Aboriginal designers in the mainstream fashion world.

“Working with Native Threads to popularize its brand in Canada will give me an opportunity to exchange design ideas with a leading apparel company and to gain valuable experience in the marketing and promotions side of the clothing business.”

SARAIN’S FAVORITES

Favorite drinks: anything with coconut!, Pina Colada's and strawberry juice

Favorite sports: Dance (yes it is a sport!) and basketball

Favorite Movies: Fame, and The Color Purple

Favorite Bands: Digging Roots

Favorite Places: The porch of my cottage at dawn when the water looks like it will never move, like not even the strongest wind could stir it. And the red cliffs on the shores of lake superior at Bad River reserve of Wisconsin.

Favorite Foods: Indian Taco's, and any organic smoothie, Kool hemp ice cream

TV Shows: Mocassin Flats, Law and Order

Role Models: My mom (she’s a warrior woman) and all my elders’ teachings. They shared with me the past so that I can walk the good red road that is my future. Jim Dumont, Shelly Charles and all of the Three Fires society.

Family Life: I am a mama's girl! I would rather be with my family on any freezing cold or hot sticky day of the year. We walk our own crazy Anishinabe path, a perfect balance of support and a constant search for serenity.

Abenaki, Algonquin, Apache, Arapaho, Atsugewi, Beothuk, Blackfeet, Caddo, Cahuilla, Catawba, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chickasaw, Chinook, Choctaw, Chumash, Comanche, Creek, Cree, Crow, Flathead, Gabrielino, Hopi, Houma, Hupa, Huron, Inuit, Iowa, Iroquois, Kickapoo, Kiowa, Kumeyaay, Dakota, Lenape, Mahican, Mattole, Menominee, Miami, Micmac, Miwok, Modoc, Mohican, Mohawk, Mohegan, Montagnais, Mojave, Narragansett, Navajo, Nez Perce, Nunavut, Ojibwe, Ohlone, Omaha, Oneida, Osage, Otoe, Ottawa, Pawnee, Penobscot, Peoria, Pequot, Plains Indian, Pomo, Poncas, Potawatomi, Powhatan, Pueblo, Quapaw, Seminole, Seneca, Shawnee, Sioux, Shoshone, Taos, Timbisha Shoshone, Tolowa, Tonkawa, Ute, Wampanoag, Wailaki, Wichita, Wyandotte, Yokut, Yorok, Yuchi, Zuni