PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO

I'm Laura Pia, a seamstress based in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Indigenous to Canada’s Arctic. I am from a small isolated town, but I have big dreams and I am motivated to build on my skills.

I’ve been sewing since childhood, and I specialize in making Inuit traditional baby carriers, jackets, snow pants, traditional boots, and canvas tents. My work also includes hand-sewing fur jackets, pants, hats, mitts, boots, and earmuffs. I make canvas tents using my family’s pattern.

LAURA PIA CHURCHILL

Inuit Seamstress from the Canadian Arctic & Aspiring Atelier Designer

Amauti

The Inuit baby carrier

Using my late grandmother Pia’s patterns which were passed down to me, I have created many baby carriers to keep both mother and child warm in our cold climates, while keeping them fashionable and comfortable. The baby goes in the pouch, which is built in to the jacket on the back, with a hood.

When I moved to Greenland in 2022, I made baby carriers to sell, which was my main source of income. Inuit baby carriers were no longer used in Greenland due to the effects of colonization, and they are revitalizing and reclaiming the tradition, creating a high demand for these baby carriers.

My dream after completing my studies is to teach amauti-making and patternmaking to Inuit across the circumpolar arctic, as well as creating red carpet couture looks.

Other Projects

Kamiik
Traditional skin boots

These are hand-stitched and made using naturally tanned skins, including the soles. There are many steps to processing skins before they are ready for sewing. This process is natural and chemical-free, and the boots are biodegradable.

Tupiq

Canvas Tent

This tent was made using my grandmother’s style pattern with directions from my mother. I went camping in the spring time and in the summer time with this tent. It brought back memoeries as I grew up camping in massive tents that my grandmother made with our large family.