Elysia Baier of Tega Designs now knows what it's like to be revealed as the designer of red carpet attire during the annual Oscars festivities.
The Innisfail fashion designer made a custom, deconstructed suit with embroidered, beaded and sequined dragons for Calgary photographer and digital artist Wilson Hui who attended the Luxury Viewing Gala and Awards for the Oscars, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Party in Hollywood on March 2.
"He went to a Luxury Gala, got to walk the red carpet, was interviewed by Miss Teen United States. It was really, really wonderful," said Baier, who watched live videos of Hui on Instagram during the movie industry's big night.
Embroidered dragons embellished the see-through back of Hui's crop jacket with tails. The legendary creatures — in recognition of Hui's Chinese culture — climbed over one shoulder, down his chest, and onto the opposite pant leg.
The black suit had a brocade lining with a dragon motif and pointy sleeves detached at the shoulders that stood at attention.
"He wanted something edgy. He wanted something really powerful," Baier said about the design she created for Hui, who provided input.
"Having that open back, that's something I've been working on and adding to my suit designs for the last 18 months. It looks gorgeous on a bridal-type suit for men or women."
The one-of-a-kind suit will make its next appearance when Hui, an avid puzzler, attends an upcoming Canadian puzzle competition.
"I love the creativity that comes with women's wear, but now that men's wear is far more experimental and playful, I'm really enjoying adding those elements into those basic line designs," Baier added.
As a formal wear designer, Baier's clothes have appeared on runways and in magazines. She first met Hui last year while he was on a photography runway assignment, and she hopes her connection to the fashion and film industry in Alberta will bring more customers her way as Canadian prides swells during the trade dispute with the United States.
"I think right now for any Canadian celebrities, or for people who attend those types of gala events, they're looking for a Canadian designer."
Baier calls herself a "generational" seamstress and designer.
"My grandmother was the main teacher. She taught my mother, and my mother also helped teach me. And I'm a product of 4H. I did 4H for nine years, and in my community we had two ladies who were very good at, and into, sewing."
She said design school was not in the cards when she graduated high school in 1998, and she became a teacher, got married, and started raising a family. But clothing design still called to her, and she started working with her clients in her home. For the past eight years, Tega Designs Sewing and Alterations has since been located on Main Street in Innisfail.
"I jumped in with both feet and here we are."
Last fall, Baier was the customer for the short film Tooth, which was shot in Innisfail, Olds and Calgary.
Currently, she is "thick into grad season," and in a month, wedding shoppers will start to trickle into her shop.
Being Métis, Baier has been connecting with Indigenous fashion designers and would eventually love to show designs incorporating her culture during Vancouver's Indigenous Fashion Week.
"I'm hoping I can push that a little further into formal wear, particularly men's formal wear, wedding gowns, just adding some nods to my own heritage."
