SWAIA Native Fashion Show brings indigenous voice to the runway

Eleven years ago, Amber-Dawn Bear Robe had the idea to propose a Native American led fashion show that would highlight all the creativity and cultural influence of Native American and indigenous people. As a Native art historian, Bear Robe was a great fit to take on the job. She took the role of fashion curator and director and the fashion show was born.

SWAIA Fashion show

Since its start eleven years ago, the show has grown "leaps and bounds," according to Bear Robe.

As a Canadian and New Mexican resident, Bear Robe has seen all the forms of fashion across Native American culture and knew she wanted to give designers and artists a platform to share their stories.

Bear Robe made a point to ensure Native Americans across the world were seen in the shows.

"As Indigenous people we have been traveling around the world for a long time," she said. "I have family from all over and I think it's important to give them a platform from anywhere. There is a completely different fashion scene in Canada for indigenous people and I think it's important to show what's going on across Native communities."

Since then, Santa Fe has hosted the Southern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) program, showcasing multiple designers, 100 models and nearly 1,000 audience members per show. This show will feature work from six designers including award winner Lauren Good Day, Canadian designer Jamie Okuma and local Santa Fe designer Adrian Standing-Elk Pinnecoose. Black Eyed Peas member Taboo will open the show to bring a prominent indigenous voice to the runway.

This year, SWAIA was responsible for organizing the first ever U.S. Native Fashion week - a week dedicated to exploring indigenous fashion. Events for the week included four fashion shows, VIP parties for models and designers and a pop-up show where visitors were able to purchase some of the items featured on the catwalk.

Bear Robe said preparing for the show is "complex but just like putting together any other fashion show."

"We have an application process and once the designers are confirmed they book models through a modeling agency," she said.

Once models are selected, designers work with them to show their works of art.

Bear Robe said her decision to host the show in Santa Fe was a natural one.

"Santa Fe is the hub of Native American culture and was built with that focus in mind," she said.

Designers have a variety of fashion items to show. Some designers took traditional clothing and reinterpreted them into a more modern setting. Others created a unique blend of traditional and modern styles to create streetwear looks, which are meant to be worn in daily settings.

Other artists chose to focus on creating accessories like jewelry and bags. Many feature classic materials like turquoise, leather and silver but also incorporate modern trends and materials.

The fashion show is meant not only to give designers an opportunity to show their art to an audience, but it is also meant to challenge what people think about Native American styles.

"Indigenous cultures are continually shifting, responding to the land and modern environment; some fashions reflect this and may challenge the viewer’s notion of 'Indian style,' while other designers use fashion as a means for social activism," according to the SWAIA website.

It adds, "Contemporary Native American fashion is a vibrant and diverse field that reflects the ongoing creativity and innovation of Indigenous knowledge expressed through material culture."