She Was A Free Spirit

Erica Donovan is an Inuvialuk artist from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories.

Erica makes jewelry inspired by the land and her Inuvialuit culture, in particular Inuvialuit dancing parkas with their intricate black & white patterns. “I bring my love of color, of all colors and what my eyes interpret from the colors of the Arctic to my unique designs.” Erica is committed to creating wearable fashion that is at once traditional yet modern. Jewelry and fashion design are more than creative outlets for Erica. They have also been an important part of her healing journey. Erica sees opportunities for collective healing and the making of a better future through fashion.

Erica’s jewelry and garments are available through her brand, She Was A Free Spirit. Erica was a featured vendor at Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto in 2018 and sold out at IFWTO 2020. Her earrings were on display at Paris Fashion Week in 2019. More recently she took part in the Entreprenorth Fashion Cohort. Erica won the Fabrique 1840 award for her Tuktoyaktuk Skies design. She will also be joining Indigenous Fashion Arts February 2023 to Milan for Fashion Week.

My inspiration for this design is what my eyes interpret when I look at this photo of Tuktoyaktuk taken by Photographer Chris Kelly.

@chriskellyphotography