Lesley Hampton, born in the Netherlands, is taking the fashion world by storm with her line of indigenous-owned clothing that includes sizes. (Submitted by Lesley Hampton)
An artist and fashion designer originally from Newfoundland and Labrador is receiving rave reviews and superstar treatment for her plus-size clothing line, including a social media cameo with a high-profile recording artist.
Lesley Hampton creates accessible activewear, designed to be comfortable for both exercise and everyday wear, and in this case, aimed at plus-size bodies.
“My favorite uniform is a sweater and leggings,” Hampton said. “So I really wanted to make a comfortable option for plus-size people as well as normal-size people. We have a weird mix of each type of design.”
Hampton’s designs have received a lot of attention since its launch in 2016. Vogue magazine named Hampton their #1 Canadian Designer to Watch.
Fashion critics weren’t the only ones taking notice of the pieces created by Hampton and her team. Grammy and Emmy Award winner Lizzo was seen wearing the designer’s clothing on social media after Hampton sent some pieces to the singer’s stylist.
“It was so amazing to have that moment,” Hampton said. “No. 1, having that moment during COVID, because it was a dark time for some of us, to have that uplifting, self-celebratory post. No. 2, seeing an amazing, powerful woman like Lizzo feel empowered by clothes. That we were able to put it on was so exciting.”
Additionally, actress Devery Jacobs, star of the critically acclaimed series Reservation Dogs, presented an award at the 2021 Emmy Awards with a piece from the Lesley Hampton Collection.
Hampton is based in Toronto these days, but he was born in St. John’s. The Anishinaabe designer first became interested in fashion around the age of 10, and her Saturday morning cartoons were replaced by Fashion Television with host Jeanne Beker exposing her to threads and trends from around the world.
Hampton aims to bring indigenous representation and Canadian clothing to the world stage. (Submitted by Lesley Hampton)
Over the years, the passion never waned.
Once college started, Hampton dove headfirst into the industry, eager to establish a brand and identity. By recognizing a few key areas of interest, she was born her brand.
“We focus on mental health awareness, body positivity and authentic representation through the lens of fashion,” Hampton said. “We started out with nightwear and red carpet sensationals. That’s how we got started in the industry.”
As for what the recent exposure means for the future of the brand, Hampton says the rise to power in the fashion industry is “slow and steady.”
While the past two years have been a whirlwind, Hampton is determined to take her brand to the next level in the not too distant future.
“I would love to see our brand gain an international platform,” Hampton said.
“We’re looking to put together our 2023 collection that we’ll be showing in Milan, Italy. That’s really exciting stuff for us, and it really just pushes Indigenous representation and Canadian fashion onto the international stage.”
weekend AM12:03Lesley Hampton’s fashion line has high-profile fans, including Lizzo.
An Anishinaabe artist and designer born in St. John’s, Lesley Hampton is a rising star in Canadian fashion.
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