I’m Dorathy Wright: maker, teacher, and business owner. I’m driven, family-focused, and serious about quality. I build every piece with the understanding that my name is walking out the door with it.
I grew up in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, surrounded by women who sewed, crafted, and made what the North required. I’ve been working with my hands since I was young, learning from my grandmas and aunties, taking classes, teaching myself, and building skill over time.
I learned to make a parka through a Healthy Babies class when I became a mom, making my first parka for my oldest daughter. Some of what I know feels taught, and some of it feels like memory, like it was already in me.
The turning point came when I started teaching workshops. A quilting class in Délı̨nę changed everything. The energy was immediate. People kept coming back. The work expanded fast—community to community—because people wanted access to the knowledge.
The North isn’t a theme for me; it’s home. This work comes from lived experience: what keeps you warm, what lasts, what matters.
My parkas are rooted in Delta tradition. The shape, the trim, the fur, and the function aren’t design trends. They’re part of a culture that built clothing to survive and to carry identity at the same time.
I care about clean lines, strong finishes, and the kind of quality you feel when you wear something for years. I take my time where it matters most (on the outside details, the structure, the final look) because that’s what the world sees first.
I don’t copy styles that aren’t mine. I respect where other traditions come from, and I stay grounded in my own. I won’t compromise on:
House of Willow is the evolution of my work, from early quilting into a fuller fashion house direction. Right now, I’m focused on two things: creating finished pieces and teaching workshops that produce real results.
Over the past five to six years, I’ve taught well over a hundred workshops and helped make hundreds of parkas each year through classes and custom work. I’m building something meant to last and something I can pass on.
Whether you’re making your own parka in a workshop or wearing one of mine, the goal is the same: you should feel proud of what you’re carrying.
