Little Burgundy and Converse came together to celebrate women and inspire future generations. The workshop was run by Hydro Flora, a Montreal-based community driven by a vision of city life wholly infused with nature. The event shined a spotlight on women who are uplifting and inspiring those around them. There is no better group of facilitators to help us offer these deserving creatives their (literal and figurative) flowers.

Montreal artist Kezna Dalz, better known as teenadult, designed a tote bag  inspired by the event. 100% of the profits from the sale of the bag will be going to The Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, an organization that offers support and frontline services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women.

Learn more about Kezna & the other incredible women in the Q&As below!

MEET KEZNA

Tell us about yourself (who you are & what you do)

My name is Kezna Dalz and I am a multidisciplinary artist based in Tio’Tia:Ke (Montreal). My work mostly consists of digital work and painting on canvas.

Who & what inspires you?

I am forever inspired by myself and by the people around me. For me, energy, vibrations and situations we all go through really guide my creation. I also aim, with my work, to promote anti-racism, body positivity and self-love. 

What’s a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would love to tell myself that I am not an alien. That although my feelings may feel unusual, there are people out there who are willing to listen, accept and understand. I would also tell myself that I am allowed to feel them and that it is okay to follow my heart and passions.

What makes you feel proud to be a woman?

I am proud to be a woman because I believe we are incredibly strong considering all of that we go through, simply because we are. And, because of that, I feel like communities are built on the basis of support and it brings me joy and comfort every day.

MEET RACKY

Tell us about yourself (who you are & what you do)

My name is Racky Sow – I’m a Montreal-based freelance stylist. My clients include artists, brands and creatives within the city. 

Who & what inspires you?

I find inspiration in a variety of people and things, but the person who inspires me the most is my mom. She is an incredible woman who is the true definition of resilience. She taught me how to be the independent woman I am today and continuously pushes me to put one foot in front of the other when facing difficulties. We also share the same passion for fashion- I definitely get it from my mama!

What’s a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

The most important piece of advice I would give to my younger self is that whatever’s meant for me will find me. Time worrying about what will happen next or what could’ve happened in every aspect of my life is time lost. It’s also very important to always have confidence in yourself,  be patient in everything you undertake and to know your worth!

What makes you feel proud to be a woman?

As women, we deal with so much, but we come out even stronger through our hardships. Our bond is also special – we support each other through everything we accomplish, but most importantly empower each other. That’s what makes us so special and makes me feel proud to be a woman. 

MEET LOLA

Tell us about yourself (who you are & what you do). 

Montreal-based film photographer.

Who & what inspires you? 

I am often inspired by the conversations I share with the diverse and creative minds of the people I meet. Montreal is overflowing with talented artists of all kinds and I think without realizing it, we all inspire ourselves from one another in a communal way. Take music, for example, when there is a song I resonate with, I create a mental image of what it evokes in me and try to apply it to my work. Whether it be a musician I know or just fond of, I think there are ways we can implement the effect that other artists can have on us into our own craft.

What’s a piece of advice you would give your younger self? 

Breathe. You are exactly where you need to be right now, do good and good things will align themselves at the right time with what is meant for you.

What makes you feel proud to be a woman? 

Women are truly inspiring. They bring such a refreshing perspective to the table. Women have so much to offer with their ability to overcome some of the greatest challenges thrown their way. And to be part of such a group and community really drives me to create great things as I honour women of the past and present, and even more so the future generations of promising and triumphant women.

 MEET TAMAR

Tell us about yourself (who you are & what you do)

My name is Tamar Black Rotchin (alias TBR), and I am a visual artist based in Montreal. Using mediums such as painting, drawing, comics, and animation, I create my own versions of real life; surreal characters and the spaces they occupy. My art is the physical representations of feelings too complex and daunting for me to figure out internally. I centre my work around topics of identity, forgiveness, mental illness, self-image, and the weight of emotions. I try to be as vulnerable and honest in my work as I can, because it is my objective to connect with others by portraying the good and bad of universal human truth. 

Who & what inspires you?

I have always been inspired by the little interactions we experience every day. Sometimes it is my own inner dialogue, a passing moment in a stranger’s conversation, vulnerability in public and in private, or an interesting person that you can’t seem to take your eyes off of. 

My parents inspire me to think creatively- I grew up as one of four daughters, in a household that encouraged us to meet the banality of daily life with imagination. My mom was always inventing art projects or taking us to the library to keep us occupied. She inspired me and my sisters to get lost in books, or to express our everyday thoughts and feelings through artistic mediums, whether that be drawing, painting, collage or journaling. My dad romanticized life through music, explaining every lyric to me, the emotions evoked through song, or the memories he associated with it. 

What’s a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would advise young Tamar to not be so self-critical, and to share her art with others. I would let her know that she doesn’t have to be ashamed of herself in fear of being judged, because she is not alone in her feelings and experiences.

What makes you feel proud to be a woman?

It makes me proud to be a woman whenever I’m in the company of powerful women. I am most proud when I am around my sisters. Whenever we are all together at my parent’s house (which is rare now that we’re all adults!), the energy is electric. We listen and speak to each other with empathy, intelligence, humour and love. They are truly dynamic people and seeing them be so courageous and self-assured makes me feel really proud to be a woman.

MEET NÉHÉMIE

Tell us about yourself (who you are & what you do)

My name is Néhémie, I’m a singer, songwriter and fashion content creator. I’ve been singing my whole life and started writing songs at the age of 10. I’ve always been into fashion, I started consistently creating content on my Instagram in 2019, I have since been able to grow my following and build a community. I am now getting deeper into my fashion niche and recently started studying fashion in hopes of launching my own company and becoming a creative director.

Who & what inspires you?

I’m inspired by all black women. The way that we are taking up space, innovating in our fields while being the blueprint for so many pop culture trends and blossoming in spite of all of the odds that are against us. I’m so proud to be a woman, plus being black?! It truly feels like I won the lotto!

What’s a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to enjoy the present moment and stop worrying so much about the future. I am still learning to do so. As a Christian, I just want to remind myself that my future is in God’s hands. I want my younger self to know that even though the plans I made won’t work out like I thought they would, what’s on the other side is even better. What’s for me won’t miss me and I’ll never have to chase because I attract.

What makes you feel proud to be a woman?

The women around me make me feel proud to be a woman. Their beauty, their softness, strength and intelligence as well as their courage and vulnerability all at once. My mother, my sister and both of my grandmothers amaze me in who they are, with all that they’ve had to sacrifice for me to be where I am today. It’s inevitable for me to be proud of my heritage as a Haitian woman.