Orange Shirt Day and
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

We recognize the tragic history of residential schools. We honour the survivors and lost children, their families and communities. Every Child Matters.

Aritzia is committed to the ongoing process of reconciliation and acknowledges our primary Canadian operations take place on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Nations — xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).

Sparrow’s woven textiles displayed at her studio in Vancouver, BC.

To commemorate Orange Shirt Day, we partnered with Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) designer Debra Sparrow to create a limited-edition Orange T-Shirt.

100% of the proceeds will be donated to Orange Shirt Society and other Indigenous community organizations.

This product is produced under license with Orange Shirt Society.

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Born in Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) territory, Debra Sparrow (θəliχʷəlʷət) is an acclaimed designer, weaver, jewellery maker and knowledge keeper reviving the intricate Salish practices of her ancestors.

These techniques, once lost to the Musqueam people, are reborn through her self-taught dedication. Her work is a testament to cultural resilience, nourishing and grounding a new generation.

Sparrow’s hand-spun textiles and t-shirt design, alive with geometric patterns and symbolism, embody the spirit of Musqueam tradition.

A: First of all, it’s not art. It’s a reflection of the beauty and the integrity of the women who lived way before contact. We know art in a specific way — before any Europeans came with the word “art,” everything we made was utilitarian. It had a reason to come into the world.

All these patterns that we do are a reflection of what inspired our ancestors and how they saw their world.

A: What really inspires me is that middle part of our lives where we’re questioning, “Who are you? Who are we? Who am I? Who am I as a woman, as a Musqueam, as a contemporary?” And I was really influenced by a lot of my friends of the northwest coast and admired how they hold their history.

When I start working on a piece, I’ll sit there for maybe a day and begin my weaving. People will ask, “What pattern are you going to do?” and I say, “I don’t know.” I have to wait for my ancestors to show me. I just start working. When I’m working, I might start with one simple thing, and then all of a sudden, I’ll see something else, and then something else. I just keep going.

A: The elements in this piece symbolize our many Salish forms. The centre design is a representation of a spindle whorl. Inside are dots that honour each of the 215 children who were found. Our Salish textile blankets, placed outside of the whorl, are as old as time. I would love to spiritually wrap each child with love. And connection. Bringing comfort to their families.

A: I just have great faith. I have faith, I have a reason to exist, I have a responsibility.

As we reflect on the meaning of Orange Shirt Day and Every Child Matters, we’re also celebrating Indigenous futurity, entrepreneurialism and creativity.

We work with Indigenous leaders and facilitators to continue supporting our People’s learning journeys and informed allyship.

We support Indigenous peoples and communities across Canada and are proud to be in partnership with Pow Wow Pitch, Indspire and Orange Shirt Society.

We have a dedicated spot in our annual Internship Program for Indigenous students. The program provides coaching and mentorship from world-class leaders who share meaningful business experience and support growth potential.