Pacific Northwest Creatives Summit Finale
April 23 2026, Victoria BC
The Better Together Gala x Fashion Show is the closing celebration of the Pacific Northwest Creatives Summit—an evening that brings our community together through fashion, performance, and shared joy.
Attending the Summit?
If you’re registered for the Pacific Northwest Creatives Summit, you can access the Gala by purchasing a Summit Full Experience Pass, which includes entry to the Better Together Gala x Fashion Show as part of the complete Summit experience.
Designers
Lesley Hampton
Lesley Hampton is a Toronto-based Anishinaabe artist and fashion designer focused on mental wellness and body neutrality in fashion through the lens of the Indigenous worldview. The brand has dressed celebrities such as Sandra Oh, Lilly Singh, Lizzo, Lily Gladstone, Quannah Chasinghorse, Devery Jacobs, Anna Lambe, and most recently, Nelly Furtado at the 2026 Juno Awards.
Sandra Froher
Proud member of Sqwá First Nation, Sandra powerfully expresses and deeply reveres her Indigenous heritage through her sustainable fashion line, Spirit Essence. She hand-dyes her garments using organic materials foraged from nature. These pieces are further embellished with handmade jewelry crafted from copper, feathers, bark, and plants, resulting in a vibrant fusion of traditional knowledge, ancestral history, and contemporary expression.
May Sam
Born into the Malahat Nation, May is a master Cowichan knitter with over 60 years of experience. May first learned to knit from her father, Everest, and since then, her work has become cherished by her community and internationally. May’s work has been seen and sold on the west coast and across Canada. Numerous pieces are now part of private collections throughout Europe.
Eleven in Neon
Collaborators Rad Juli and Nicole Mandryk bring their mix of designs to the runway. Inspired by neons and basketball their designs can be worn daily or to special events. Eleven in Neon aims to use upcycled fabrics and participate in slow fashion by not overproducing garments. Juli and Nicole love bringing various textures to people’s closets.
Ette Designs
As the founder of Ette, Kiara Jeanette blends traditional African textiles with modern design, creating pieces rooted in ethical artisanship that honour heritage while embracing confidence, and self-expression. Her Spring/Summer 2026 collection reflects bold renewal—reimagined favourites and new silhouettes that channel the confidence you already carry.
Hawdaj
Founded by Nada Hamatto, a Canadian visual artist and designer, Hawdaj draws inspiration from deep roots in the Holy Land, reimagining cultural memory into fashionable, modern pieces designed to be worn with confidence today. Hawdaj does not replicate tradition—it refines and redefines it.
Hidden Dart
Passionate dressmaker Olga Summers is the owner of Victoria BC-based Hidden Dart Studio, where she creates glamorous evening wear and custom gowns for weddings and special occasions. Her work portrays elegance, and timeless design. At the core of Hidden Dart is the belief that everyone deserves to feel comfortable and confident while looking fabulous.
Kaylyn & Amber
Northern Tutchone & Tlingit sisters from Pelly Crossing, Yukon, Kaylyn and Amber Baker carry their Selkirk First Nation lineage into every piece they create. Their beadwork, textiles, and fashion bridge ancestral teachings with bold contemporary style transforming colour, story, and land into wearable art. Kaylyn’s “beaded storytelling” blends memory and emotion, while Amber’s jewelry work celebrates cultural pride and community connection.
Myrna Crossley
A member of the Songhees Nation, Myrna has been wool weaving since 1993, through the teachings of Master Weaver Rita (Louis) Bob of the Saanich Nation. wool. Myrna uses clean carted wool that she spins on a treadle spinner, preparing wool for dying with seasonal plant dye materials sourced from barks, berries and plants before warping and weaving on a Salish traditional loom.
Shifty Mother
Shifty Mother explores women’s ever changing silhouettes. Founder Nike Hatzidimou is a Textile Artist and Fashion Designer based in Victoria BC. She studied fashion and technology at Kwantlen University, where she developed a passion for all things sustainable. Using mindful zero waste patterns, natural fibers and small batch botanical hand dyed pieces, each garment becomes a one-of-a-kind creation that is gentle on the skin and the environment.
Smouldy
From Duncan BC and a 2022 graduate of the Pacific Design Academy, Stephanie Mould is the creative force behind Smouldy. Drawing inspiration predominantly from 20th-century music and art, Stephanie’s work reflects a commitment to reducing fabric waste. Through Smouldy, each collection embodies sustainability by incorporating deadstock fabric and repurposed or scrap fabric and notions.
Fashion Show Leads
Angela Campuzano
Fashion Show Co-Lead
Angela serves as Fashion Show Co-Lead for the Better Together Gala, drawing on her cultural roots and creative instincts to support artistic direction, designer coordination, and backstage flow. She brings a vibrant, people-first approach to shaping the showcase experience.
Nicole Mandryk
Fashion Show Co-Lead
As Fashion Show Co-Lead, Nicole combines her design background with her event role—helping craft the creative direction, support designers and models, and bring a runway experience that reflects community, culture, and intentional craftsmanship.
Performers
Victoria Bengali Cultural Society
Punjabi Cultural Community Association of Victoria
Fashion Show designers and models supported by the creative team of:
Erin Bradley: Lead Make Up Artist @erinbradleyartist
Jessica Young: Model Coach @jessica_young_model
Heath Moffat: Photographer @hmoffattphoto
DJ Ozzie @stylecouncilyyj
Bradley Dick: MC