Candace Bristow is a Copper Inuit seamstress with family roots in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, in the communities of Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay) and Kugluktuk. She is currently located in the North Slave Region (Yellowknife, NT), and specializes in mitts, earrings, vests and trapper hats, which she sells online under her own label, Nauttiaq Apparel.
Bristow was introduced to sewing in high school around the age of 16, when she took a liking to working with furs and hides. Much of her learning process was self-led, and in 2022 she began expanding her knowledge to include vests, purses, clutch bags, and beading. Bristow’s mother-in-law and coworkers have been mentors for her, advising her on sewing and piecing different items together and supporting her throughout her artistic journey.
Early on in her practice, Bristow was inspired to make a set of mother-daughter mukluks after seeing a similar idea on social media. “I wanted to do something for myself and especially for my daughter… she actually helped me pick the colours for the flowers,” the artist shares. [1] Much of Bristow’s early work featured beautiful floral designs. She is inspired by flowers either in person or online; seeing the flowers sparked her vision of how she will incorporate their image into her work. Her creative process begins with considerable planning. According to Bristow, she begins by “drafting templates on paper and then transferring it to the uppers,” of the shoes before experimenting with floral motifs. In addition to floral works, Bristow has created pieces with more playful imagery, like Pokémon and Spiderman.
This project encouraged Bristow to learn patterns for other items like hats, moccasins, kamiit and vests, and in 2024 Bristow decided to focus her practice on mitts, earrings, vests and trapper hats. Her first collection of earrings were a series of ulu-shaped earrings, featuring a semicircular sealskin centre edged with two rows of differently coloured beads and topped with a gold-plated semi circle.
Bristow regularly donates her work to charitable organizations. Over multiple years she has provided pieces to Catherine’s Cause, a community initiative that raises money for various causes like the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Regina General Hospital in Saskatchewan. In 2022 Bristow made a pair of baby moccasins for the Canadian Coast Guard’s 60th Anniversary Time Capsule, which now resides in Hay River, NT. She hopes to contribute to more causes that help northern regions and is continuously working on new sewing projects to support her family. In fall 2023 she had her first table sale, selling directly to the public. “I have gained enough confidence and experience to sign up for more vendor opportunities,” she says, explaining that she plans to take her work to other arts markets across the country. [2]
This Profile was made possible through support from RBC Emerging Artists.