index

About Dorothy

Dorothy Grant C.M. is a Haida designer and cultural storyteller whose work bridges traditional knowledge with contemporary fashion. For 47 years, she has carried forward the teachings of her grandmother, Florence Edenshaw Davidson, who taught her spruce-root basketry, ceremonial hats, and button blankets. These early lessons shaped her belief that art is a living expression of identity.

In the mid‑1980s, Grant’s conversations with Bill Reid encouraged her to pursue formal fashion training. After graduating from the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design in 1988, she began integrating Haida formline into couture — a groundbreaking approach that has influenced generations of Indigenous designers. Today she is celebrated as the OG of Native fashion, known for garments that serve as creative spaces where Haida art, history, and contemporary culture meet.

Her work is held in more than 20 museum collections, including the Smithsonian, the Canadian Museum of History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 2025, the MET acquired her Shark Robe and Transformation Hat, recognizing her enduring impact on Indigenous design.

Dorothy continues to mentor emerging designers and teach fur‑felt ceremonial hat making in Indigenous communities, offering new ways to express living culture. Through her online studio, she designs, manufactures, and retails garments that embody Yaagudaang — “respect of one’s self.” Clients often share that wearing her work makes them feel transformed, grounded, and proud of who they are.

2003

Dorothy is named "Business Woman of the year" by Asper Business Institute

Grant continues to be recognized for both her artistic talent and business skill. In 2003, the Asper Business Institute named Grant “Business Woman of the Year.
1999

Dorothy Wins the 1999 Indspire Achievement Award

Haida artist, fashion designer and businesswoman Dorothy Grant was the recipient of the prestigious National Aboriginal Achievement Business Award for 1999. The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation is an initiative of the aboriginal community and represents the highest honor the community bestows upon its achievers. Grant, who is the owner/operator of a thriving boutique in downtown Vancouver for the past four and half years, was recognized for her business acumen. The recipients were honored at a gala awards ceremony in Regina on March 12, 1999 at the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts in Regina, SK.
1998

Dorothy Received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree

During the University of Northern British Columbia’s June 1, 1998 graduation ceremony, Dorothy Grant was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law in Prince George, B.C. Grant was recognized for her talent and perseverance in maintaining her cultural integrity, as well as being an “outstanding” role model for First Nations people.
1996

Dorothy's Raven Tunic is chosen for the New York Fundraiser

At the 1996 Smithsonian Museum Auction in New York, her Raven Creation Tunic stole the show and was auctioned for a NMAI Fundraiser.
1995

Dorothy's Octopus Red Dress and Shawl

My clothing embodies the Haida philosophy Yaagudaang. This is the driving force behind my clothing designs and it means, “empowerment, pride and feeling good about oneself.” – Dorothy Grant
1994

Dorothy Opens her own Retail Store "Dorothy Grant Boutique" in Vancouver

The design of the boutique successfully combined the Edwardian character of Sinclair Centre with the purity of line and form found in Haida architecture. This boutique was the first of its kind in Canada and was exclusive to Grant’s Feastwear and Dorothy Grant collections, along with her casual line of clothing. It also featured gift items with a Northwest Coast flavor such as hand carved silver and gold jewelry and framed limited edition silk screened prints. Select garments are also available through Dorothy Grant’s “Virtual Boutique” at www.dorothygrant.com
1993

Dorothy Receives "Best Professional Designer" Award at competation

The award included an invitation to attend one of Paris’ most exciting fall events “Les Vendages Sur La Montaigne.” Dorothy was the featured designer at a special reception sponsored by the Canadian Embassy in Paris. Her mentor, also from the Raven Clan, died in 1993, but the foundations from which Grant’s later work would erupt had been carefully laid.
1991

Dorothy Is Part Of Panache: 200 YearsOf The Fashionable Women

Her "Raven Greatcoat" was prominent as the final piece and was later purchased by the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology. Following this presentation, Grant's designs were exhibited in several art galleries across North America including The Meridian Gallery in San Francisco, for the show "Haida Ritual Art: The Insistent Present." She was featured in a book written by the Vancouver Museum in 1991 for "Panache: 200 Years of the Fashionable Women "

"Land, Spirit, Power" a touring exhibit of works by Canadian Aboriginal artists featured Grant's "Seven Raven Button Blanket." The National Gallery of Canada has since purchased this series for their permanent collection. https://books.google.ca/books/about/Panache.html?
id=OLbfAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y.

1990

Dorothy's Work Continues To Get Featuredin More News Paper & Press

In 1988, she graduated from Helen Le'Feaux School of Fashion Design and immediately started her first collection. In that same year Grant became the first to merge Haida art and fashion utilizing her formal training at the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design.

FUN FACT:
The image showcases a sketch of her EAGLE BOLERO (with T-Form) dress that she drew while in the Fashion Design School that she would later go on to bring to life in 1989 as shown in the accompanying image to the right!

1989

Dorothy's first collection wasdebuted featuring 55 pieces

Nobody was doing it at the time in 1989. List Tant said she was “the first aboriginal designer to combine traditional haida ceremonial dress with contemporary fashion” (for example by using tapering lines of the haida ceremonial copper t-ridge). In 1989 launched the Feastwear label – Premier fashion show Hotel Vancouver. Here you will find a sneak peak at a 50 piece collection of FEASTWEAR and Dorothy Grant garments that are exhibition ready such as the Raven Creation Tunic which tells the graphic story of how Raven Created Mankind out of the giant clam shell, that washed up on the beaches of Rosepit. FUN FACT: The image shows the SOUTHEAST WIND AND FOAM WOMAN DRESS made of wool suiting and silk. She only made 5 dresses with this artwork, and all sold at her debut show in 1989.

FUN FACT:
The image shows the SOUTHEAST WIND AND FOAM WOMAN DRESS made of wool suiting and silk. She only made 5 dresses with this artwork, and all sold at her debut show in 1989.

1988

Dorothy Graduates from Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design

In 1988, she graduated from Helen Le’Feaux School of Fashion Design and immediately started her first collection. In that same year Grant became the first to merge Haida art and fashion utilizing her formal training at the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design. FUN FACT: The image showcases a sketch of her EAGLE BOLERO (with T-Form) dress that she drew while in the Fashion Design School that she would later go on to bring to life in 1989 as shown in the accompanying image to the right!

FUN FACT:
The image showcases a sketch of her EAGLE BOLERO (with T-Form) dress that she drew while in the Fashion Design School that she would later go on to bring to life in 1989 as shown in the accompanying image to the right!

1986

Dorothy Launches her first outfit at the 1986 Vancouver Expo

Dorothy launches her first outfit at the 1986 Vancouver Expo Dorothy's outfit the Raven Creation Tunic, debut at a potlatch at the "Big House Haida Feast" at Expo 1986 Vancouver BC. This piece was acquired by National History Museum of Canada.
1983

Dorothy Began Sketching Haida Artwork on Clothing

In 1983, she began to sketch Haida art onto clothing (e.g. garments). It was a way to reclaim the Haida culture being appropriated by non-indigenous designers. Her vision is to merge art with fashion to forge a link between ancient custom and modern society through the creation of timeless wearable art. She was the first to innovate a new style in the northwest coast native fashion design… melding artistic talent with couture. She was motivated by non-native designers who incorporated northwest coast native art symbols into their clothing collections. She took her knowledge of Haida art that she learned while making regalia for her community and combined formlined design with high fashion, as a way to express Haida social and artistic vitality. Her fashion house quickly garnered international attention and acclaim and been embraced by local and international fashion circles.

She took her knowledge of Haida art that she learned while making regalia for her community and combined formlined design with high fashion, as a way to express Haida social and artistic vitality. Her fashion house quickly garnered international attention and acclaim and been embraced by local and international fashion circles.

1981

Dorothy Starts Making Hats & Basketry

In 1981, Grant trained with her maternal grandmother, Florence Edenshaw Davidson, to weave spruce root hats and basketry while making regalia for Haida dance groups.
1968

Dorothy Learn How to sew clothes

When she was 13, Grant began sewing clothes for her younger sisters. Later, she worked with Haida Gwaii elder and knowledge-keeper Florence Edenshaw Davidson, a maternal grandmother from Masset. It took five years for her to learn the exacting discipline of weaving traditional headware and baskets from spruce roots.

Using ancient methods of assembly and applique, she made robes for traditional performers and for ceremonies.

1955

Dorothy Grant is born

Dorothy Grant was born into the Raven Clan in 1955 in Hydaburg Alaska, a settlement in the state's southeastern panhandle formed from three ancient Haida villages consolidated in 1911.

An international boundary severed Alaska's Haida from those on the Queen Charlotte Islands, now known as Haida Gwaii. But arbitrary politics didn't cut family, tribal or cultural connections. She was raised in Ketchikan She is part of the Kaigani Haida of the Raven Clan from Brown Bear House of Howkan. Her Family Crests are Two-Finned Killer whale, Shark, Berry Picker in the Moon and Brown Bear Grant is a fashion designer and traditional Haida artist. Her garments, ceremonial button blankets and spruce-root hats are treasured by Haida people as expressions of Living culture.

A sense of Haida identity is the creative force behind her fashion labels Feastwear and Dorothy Grant. Her work stems from "Yaagudaang" a Haida word for "respect of one's self'', especially her Feast Wear & Dorothy Grant Fashion Labels. Yagudaag, is a Haida word and concept, which means to "have respect for yourself and for all those you encounter". It is a concept of daily living. It's where Haida children were intuitively taught and raised with this concept. An ancient artwork that the artist have kept alive and adhere to the rules of formalize design.

Art and Fashion moves, with time and sometimes comes full circle. Her main goal or vision for the past 37 years is to honour Haida art and my ancestors. Haida art is quite complex, on so many levels, It is its own language. The artist have kept it alive from one generation to another. What I offer to see it thru a fashion lens and my clothing line.