‘Native Fashion Art’ features Native American designers

Native designers sewed, embellished, and embroidered the original North American haute couture.

These artists shape and process each part of the animal by hand, celebrating creation as they work.

Fashion can be considered America’s first design language, as seen in the use of the generic “Indian” design assigned by the fashion industry.

Today, top names such as Jamie Okuma (Louiseno, Shoshone-Bannock, Wailaki), Marcus Ammerman (Choctaw), and Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo) have been creating contemporary designs for over a decade.

The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Art will feature these works by more than 20 contemporary designers from the US and Canada in “The Art of Native Fashion.” The exhibition will run from August 19 to January 8, 2023.

The Institute of American Indian Arts served as the training ground for Okuma, Ammerman and Michael. It is no coincidence that the institute was founded by fashion designer Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee).

From traditional to the runway, clothes made by indigenous artists can be coded by combining stories related to the designer with their own culture. Through fashion, the designers only carry their knowledge of their culture as their native identity.

Amber-Dawn Bear Robey, director of the Santa Fe Indian Market Indigenous Fashion Show, is the exhibit’s guest curator.

The show features Californian designer Okuma’s ribbon dresses and skirts with a contemporary twist. A member of the La Jolla Band of Indians, she specializes in one-of-a-kind pieces with every detail executed exclusively by the artist, as well as designs ready-to-wear fashions.

Ammerman’s work includes a beaded leather jacket with a photo of actress Brooke Shields, Bear Robe said.

Ammerman is known for his illustrations.

“He brings pizzazz and fun to the job,” she added.

Known for her hand-dyed fabrics, often using algae colors, Michael’s work includes a blue and mirrored dress she made during “Project Station.”

“The Art of Native Fashion” celebrates the creativity and joy of style, opening Friday, August 19, from 5-7 p.m.

“I’m encouraging people to come in their best, to bring their bums, to be angry with their style and fashion, and to enjoy this show,” said Bear Robe. Guests at the reception will present the designers featured in the exhibition and their work at SWAIA. The cast of the AMC television series “Dark Wind”; In-demand fashion models including actress, model and activist Ashley Kaling Bull (Enoch Cree Nation) who became the first Indigenous person to win the Ms. Universe pageant in 2015.