Inside The First-Ever Native Fashion Week
• Indigenous fashion gains mainstream recognition.
• Authentic Native representation is long overdue.
• Push for diversity in the industry.
• Cultural traditions honored through fashion.
Indigenous fashion is in the spotlight, thanks in large part to actresses like Lily Gladstone and models such as Quannah Chasinghorse . But it isn't merely a passing trend. This unprecedented, and long overdue, celebration of authentic Native representation has been thousands of years in the making—and it honors long-held cultural traditions and techniques of countless tribal communities.
“Fashion and art are a mirror to society, and there's a push for diversity across the board right now,” SWAIA curator and fashion producer Amber-Dawn Bear Robe tells ELLE.com. “Our vision is to expand the footprint and representation of Indigenous talent in all facets of the fashion industry—including design, modeling, hair and makeup, production, and photography—and to invite people to truly invest in that vision.”
Below, five standout Native Fashion Week collections from designers paying homage to the rich cultural traditions of their respective tribal communities.
