For Alicia S, the journey from sketching on paper to showcasing at New York Fashion Week began with a simple sharpie and a pair of shoes. But behind that seemingly spontaneous moment in 2012 lies a lifetime of artistic passion, cultural pride, and an unwavering vision: to bring First Nations art out of the history books and onto the streets.
Roots in Two Nations
Born and raised in Victoria, BC, Alicia S (Alicia Stephens) is originally from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth (Ahousaht) and Kwakwaka’wakw (Alert Bay) Nations, both on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Now based in Vancouver for the past 20 years, her deep connection to her heritage has been the foundation of everything she creates.
“I’ve been a First Nations artist since childhood,” Alicia recalls. Her introduction came in elementary school when a teacher opened the door to Indigenous art—and it was instant passion. “I was a natural at it. I loved it,” she says, remembering the art awards she collected throughout her school years.
High school deepened her cultural education as she explored carving, beading, and drum making. She also began modeling for Indigenous fashion designers, an experience that planted a seed. “After experiencing the fashion shows, I always had a vision of featuring First Nation art on more modern clothing and everyday wear,” she shares. “This vision was always in the back of my mind.”
From Side Sketches to Full-Time Artist
Throughout her twenties and thirties, Alicia worked various jobs while sketching on paper during her free time—never once imagining art could become her career. Then 2012 arrived. Between jobs with time to spare, she returned to what she loved: sketching, painting, drawing.
One day, she picked up a sharpie and started drawing on her own shoes.
When she posted photos to Facebook, the response was immediate. Everyone wanted to purchase them. What began as creative expression quickly became popular demand, and Alicia kept creating. Soon, she opened her own selling platform on Facebook: “Alicia’s Ink.”
Over the next eight years, Alicia became a full-time artist, selling over 1,500 one-of-a-kind pieces shipped across North America. Her canvas expanded beyond shoes to include boots, high heels, runners, purses, wallets, belts, jackets, and earrings—all hand-painted with leather paint and finished with varnish. She’s also branched into printed dresses and clothing items.
“I try not to have my art manufactured because I believe each piece should be one of a kind and original, like a wall hanging, but one that you can wear,” Alicia explains. Each design features different colors, patterns, and placements, ensuring no two pieces are ever the same.
Resilience on the Runway
In 2018, Alicia received an invitation that would elevate her work to an international stage: New York Fashion Week. In September 2019, her collection debuted in Manhattan—a powerful showcase titled “Resilience.”
The collection portrayed a strong, unflinching look dedicated to survivors and non-survivors of the Residential School System. Through her designs, Alicia honored the strength of those who endured, remembered those who didn’t survive, and created wearable narratives of healing and resistance.
Where Tradition Meets Contemporary Luxury
Alicia S (@alicias_designs) is an Indigenous fashion designer whose work moves fluidly between tradition and contemporary luxury and formline. Grounded in cultural storytelling and elevated through modern silhouettes, her designs honor ancestry while speaking boldly to the present moment.
Each piece is intentionally crafted as wearable narrative, balancing strength, softness, and sovereignty. Her work reflects a new era of Indigenous fashion: unapologetic, refined, and rooted in identity.
She continues to paint and design daily, showcasing her work on social media and steadily working toward her ultimate goal: “To have First Nations art in mainstream media and show everyone that we are not just in the history books but here today and rising.”
Art That Walks Among Us
What makes Alicia’s work so compelling is its accessibility. These aren’t pieces locked away in galleries or reserved for ceremonial occasions alone. They’re boots you can wear to work, jackets you can throw on for coffee, purses that carry your daily essentials—all while carrying forward the stories, symbols, and strength of Indigenous culture.
In Alicia’s hands, formline becomes fashionable. Tradition becomes wearable. And Indigenous art steps off the canvas and into everyday life, exactly where it belongs.
Ready to wear art that tells a story? Explore Alicia S’s one-of-a-kind creations and connect with her vision of Indigenous art in modern life. Follow @alicias_designs on social media to discover her latest pieces, commission custom work, and join the movement bringing First Nations art into the present moment or go directly to her store’s gallery and look at those kicks!
