By Eva Blackhawk

Indigenous people have always been very fashionable, as traditional beadwork and leatherwork used to create incredibly detailed regalia have always been the cultural standard. Contemporary Indigenous fashion draws from this rich history in terms of aesthetics, materials, and the cultural meaning behind Indigenous fashion. This edit includes everything from ready to wear to shoppable jewelry, performance art, luxury designer goods, and fine art– because Indigenous fashion is a broad and dazzling field. I want to let the work speak mostly for itself but implore everyone to educate themselves on the historical significance behind materials and techniques used and how these pieces can speak to ongoing struggles Indigenous people face, such as climate change, social inequality, and grappling with the residue of an ongoing violent history with colonization and genocide. We have always been innovative and continue to push the bounds of modernity and creativity using anything we are given to create beauty and good medicine (whether it be beads, tobacco tin lids, or natural materials from our environment). Keep indige-slaying!

• A piece by Jodi Gillette from “The Plains Indians: Artists of the Earth and Sky” at the Metropolitan Museum.
• This piece exemplifies traditional regalia worn during dances at powwows and on other special occasions. It’s more stunning in person at the Met, where the navy beads sparkle like diamonds. 

• @terigreevesbeadwork has fully embroidered lace up heeled sneakers and speaks to a long history of ‘rez ball’ and sports on tribal reservations while highlighting girls in sports and encouraging rezpride.  

• Source: b.yellowtail instagram
• Bethany Yellowtail is one of the biggest names in the world of Indigenous designers. This dress has a pattern of repeating elk teeth, a key traditional resource

• Source: j.okuma instagram
• Jaime Okuma is another powerhouse in the world of Indigenous designers and this is from her recent collection

• More by THE Jaime Okuma (icon if you couldn’t tell)
• Here she has fully beaded a pair of prada boots. 

Source: relative arts instagram

• An indigenous owned fashion/art store in the east village that has a beautiful variety of work for sale and the most lovely owner. 

https://mothtotheflvme.com/collections/all

• Celina from @mothtotheflvme uses jingles- traditionally used in jingle dresses to create jewelry and adornments that add sparkle, jingle, and edge to any look 

• @cheyennerainlegrande on instagram
  • They have so much incredible work (peep the shoes!!!)

• @jeffrune on instagram 
• I think this piece speaks for itself 

• @jontay_kahm 
• This feathered dress is designed by @jontay_kahm a current MFA at Parsons. See this vogue article to learn more. 

• @sectionthirtyfive “SECTION 35 has been featured in Vogue, Complex and numerous other publications over the last year. In 2022, SECTION 35 had work featured at the Metropolitan Museum of New York’s “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” Exhibition alongside some of biggest designers in America.” 

• By Cannupa Hanska Luger
  • Cannupa blends performance art, traditional ceremony, and future visions with fashion