By Caitlin Brezinski

Saskatchewan designer brings new spin to Fashion Week

Sep 23, 2014 | 4:38 PM

Helen Oro, a Saskatchewan designer, recently presented her collections at Couture Fashion Week in New York. At 28 years old, Oro is reaching new heights with her unique designs.

Beaded footwear, sunglasses and accessories are among the designs she showcased in New York and the response she got was positive. 

“Everyone loved it because they haven’t seen anything like it. So it was quite new for them and it was something different for the Fashion Week,” she said.

Oro grew up in Saskatoon and moved to a small town near Pelican Lake First Nation. Her designs are inspired by the traditional beadwork her family members used to do when she was younger.

“My Grandma used to make mukluks and moccasins and she did her own beadwork on there and she always used a certain pattern, so I try to incorporate that pattern to my stuff, just something that I’ve seen growing up … it’s always been around,” she said.

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Oro got her start in the fashion industry after being invited to a show in Saskatoon a couple of years ago. She said that she just started experimenting and things took off from there.

“I got sick and I couldn’t work for a while … One thing kinda led to another and I’m doing it almost full time, but I’m doing it more and I’m getting invited to events and people are noticing it,” she said.

Oro said New York Fashion Week was a good opportunity to make some important connections in the fashion industry.

“It was just getting out there, meeting new people and networking. It was just an all-around amazing experience. I’ve never been to New York, so that itself was pretty huge for me. But getting to showcase my stuff in the actual couture week, that was even bigger for me,” she said.

Oro balances her time with two children, five-year-old Markel and three-year-old Naveah. She will take the advice given to her from different designers at fashion week and keep working at her craft.

“If you’re just starting out, you have to stay in the spotlight or you’re easily forgotten.”

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