Indigenous Presence at the Fashion Research Collection
- Date
- November 05, 2025
- Time
- 12:00 PM EST - 1:00 PM EST
- Location
- POD-250, 380 Victoria St, 2nd floor
- Open To
- Students, faculty and staff
- Contact
- Riley Kucheran riley.kucheran@torontomu.ca
What to expect
Fashion Research Collection (FRC) Director Eve Townsend and fashion professor Riley Kucheran (Biigtigong Nishnaabeg) will display and discuss Indigenous items held by TMU. They will share the stories, teachings and ongoing and future work at the FRC before inviting attendees to examine the items.
About Professor Riley Kucheran
Professor Riley Kucheran is an Indigenous fashion researcher and academic who supports a global community of Indigenous makers who are leading design resurgence. His experience in fashion retail and entrepreneurship and knowledge of Indigenous theory means he sees fashion as a powerful tool for decolonization. Indigenous design is sustainable because it relies on communities to collectively make clothing in a respectful and reciprocal way. In Riley's work, he tries to bridge Indigenous methodology with research in the creative industries and fashion management while connecting industry partners to communities in mutually beneficial ways. Riley also has responsibilities in his own community of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, and is currently doing a PhD with them about how Indigenous creative industries like fashion can mobilize cultural and economic resurgence.
About Director of Fashion Research Collection, Eve Townsend
Eve Townsend holds an MA (2014) in Fashion from Ryerson University and a BA (Hons.) (2006) in Fine Art and Art History from the University of Saskatchewan. Her graduate research focused on the history of costume jewelry and its relation to the so-called democratization of fashion. In 2017, she co-authored a book titled Schreiner: Masters of Twentieth-Century Costume Jewelry, which was based on her MA Major Research Project. With a strong interest in material culture and object-based research, Eve looks forward to filling gaps within the FRC’s current collection and expanding it to include a survey of costume jewelry.
This event is part of Indigenous Education and Treaties Recognition Week at TMU
From November 3 to 7, the week-long event will feature educational panels, hands-on workshops, entertaining events and more. TMU students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to participate in programming to better understand the unique and diverse experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, as well as treaty rights, treaty relationships and their relevance today. Indigenous Education and Treaties Recognition Week is just one facet of the larger work towards reconciliation, for which we are all responsible.
Treaties Recognition Week honours the importance of treaties, empowering students, faculty and staff with greater awareness and understanding of their relevance today. In 2016, Ontario passed the first legislation (external link) of its kind in Canada, declaring the first full week of November as Treaties Recognition Week.
This event is wheelchair accessible
The university is committed to the accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities. If you require any additional accessibility accommodations to ensure your full participation, please email cktrudeau@torontomu.ca.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please email cktrudeau@torontomu.ca.