Rock some moccs’

Baby it’s cold outside. Okay, well maybe not everywhere but it certainly is in Toronto, and in a majority of this country we call Canada. When it’s freezing out I like to spend my days inside reading, writing, reflecting, and sipping tea. Oh you like to go out and play in the snow? That’s really great, you should enjoy that. I’ll just be here until I either fly south, it thaws outside, or I make an uber dash from destination door-to-door. Yes I’m a suck and I hate the cold, but I do like some of the fine fashion indulgences that the cold brings to light and moccasins are just one of them.

If you didn’t get gifted a pair for that holiday of yesteryear, do not fear because it’s high time you show yourself some love and treat yourself for surviving your cleanse, workout routine, writing down every expense in a moleskin, or whatever that new years resolution was …

Here are some inspirations to get you closer to coziness, all Indigenous made or by Indigenous-owned companies, all #NativeAwesome.

Manitobah Mukluks

This company is Aboriginal owned  and gives back to the community in employment, supporting non-profit organizations, and supporting Native artists. These “Assiniboine” Moccasins pictured above are beautiful and very precious. I own the “Tipi” Moccasins in black because I am likely to spill coffee on my slippers, and the black hides all flaws from my eyes. Prices start at $69 and go up to $500 for the “Storyboot” Moccasins that are handmade with proceeds going directly to the artists.

Arctic Canada Trading

This company markets and sells products crafted and manufactured in the Northwest Territories. They work along side a number of Northern companies that offer customer high-quality unique products. Works here go fast so if you find a moccasin that you like, don’t take time to think about it, you’ve got to get it fast. The pair featured is a women’s size 9 (fits like a 10 or an 11), sells for $200, and the only pair available right now but there are many for children if you have a little one in your life to spoil.

The Wolf Den

This store is located in Parry Sound, ON and non-Native owned, but there are a few pairs of moose-suede moccasins on this site that are handmade by Cree artisans from Churchill, Manitoba. There’s a lot of other pairs that are generic and not made by Indigenous artists so read carefully. This pair above is $160 and features beaver fur and hand-sewn beadwork. I am obsessed with these, probably because they have pink beads.

Tlicho Online

This store is another one that sells beautiful handmade moccasins from Northwest Territories. This pair featured above are made from moose hide, and have a blue melton cuff and are lined with beaver fur. There are made by Rosa Wedzin from Behchoko, NT. And this line beading style is pretty sweet and a small reprieve from my favourite Dene flowers.

Cheryl’s Trading Post

This company is a store located in Surrey, BC and is Indigenous owned. There is not a huge amount of information on the above pair of moccasins, but the site states that they are Native made and it’s from an Indigenous owned gallery, so they must be legit. These are a ladies size 7 and sell for $285. I love the original beadwork and the fact that the flowers face the wearer, not the viewer. Beauties.

I’d love to see you you #RockYourMoccs in 2013, and not just limit it to one day. I hope to see you on Instagram!

Title photo by Arctic Canada Trading Post.