The Native Fashion Now exhibit highlights the most beautiful – and meaningful – looks from the people who truly define American style.
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
1 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 2 of 19Orlando Dugi (Diné [Navajo]), cape, dress, and headdress from “Desert Heat” collection, 2012National Museum of the American Indian 3 of 19Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock), boots, 2013–14. Glass beads on boots designed by Christian Louboutin. National Museum of the American Indian 4 of 19Jared Yazzie (Diné [Navajo]) for OxDx, Native Americans Discovered Columbus t-shirt, 2012.National Museum of the American Indian 5 of 19Moccasins made from reclaimed computer parts by Barry AceAnnie Garau 6 of 19Bethany Yellowtail (Apsáalooke [Crow] and Northern Cheyenne) for B Yellowtail, Old Time Floral Elk Tooth dress, Apsáalooke Collection, 2014. 7 of 19Annie Garau 8 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 9 of 19"Mohawk" by Carla HemlockAnnie Garau 10 of 19Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw) for Mahota Handwovens, The Messenger (The Owl) cape and headpiece, from the Mahotan Collection, 2014.National Museum of the American Indian 11 of 19"The Messenger" by Margaret Roach WheelerNational Museum of the American Indian 12 of 19Jamie OkumaAnnie Garau 13 of 19Annie Garau 14 of 19David Gaussoin and Wayne Nez Gaussoin (Diné [Navajo]/ Picuris Pueblo), Postmodern Boa, 2009.National Museum of the American Indian 15 of 19Annie Garau 16 of 19Mike Bird-Romero (Ohkay Owingeh [San Juan] and Taos Pueblos), and Eddie Begay (Diné [Navajo]), bracelets, 2000–10. National Museum of the American Indian 17 of 19Annie Garau 18 of 19Annie Garau 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Native American Fashion Isn’t All Headdresses And Moccasins View Gallery
Native American fashion is often thought of solely in an historical context and as a static notion – but a new exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian seeks to change that.
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
1 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 2 of 19Orlando Dugi (Diné [Navajo]), cape, dress, and headdress from “Desert Heat” collection, 2012National Museum of the American Indian 3 of 19Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock), boots, 2013–14. Glass beads on boots designed by Christian Louboutin. National Museum of the American Indian 4 of 19Jared Yazzie (Diné [Navajo]) for OxDx, Native Americans Discovered Columbus t-shirt, 2012.National Museum of the American Indian 5 of 19Moccasins made from reclaimed computer parts by Barry AceAnnie Garau 6 of 19Bethany Yellowtail (Apsáalooke [Crow] and Northern Cheyenne) for B Yellowtail, Old Time Floral Elk Tooth dress, Apsáalooke Collection, 2014. 7 of 19Annie Garau 8 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 9 of 19"Mohawk" by Carla HemlockAnnie Garau 10 of 19Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw) for Mahota Handwovens, The Messenger (The Owl) cape and headpiece, from the Mahotan Collection, 2014.National Museum of the American Indian 11 of 19"The Messenger" by Margaret Roach WheelerNational Museum of the American Indian 12 of 19Jamie OkumaAnnie Garau 13 of 19Annie Garau 14 of 19David Gaussoin and Wayne Nez Gaussoin (Diné [Navajo]/ Picuris Pueblo), Postmodern Boa, 2009.National Museum of the American Indian 15 of 19Annie Garau 16 of 19Mike Bird-Romero (Ohkay Owingeh [San Juan] and Taos Pueblos), and Eddie Begay (Diné [Navajo]), bracelets, 2000–10. National Museum of the American Indian 17 of 19Annie Garau 18 of 19Annie Garau 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
1 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 2 of 19Orlando Dugi (Diné [Navajo]), cape, dress, and headdress from “Desert Heat” collection, 2012National Museum of the American Indian 3 of 19Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock), boots, 2013–14. Glass beads on boots designed by Christian Louboutin. National Museum of the American Indian 4 of 19Jared Yazzie (Diné [Navajo]) for OxDx, Native Americans Discovered Columbus t-shirt, 2012.National Museum of the American Indian 5 of 19Moccasins made from reclaimed computer parts by Barry AceAnnie Garau 6 of 19Bethany Yellowtail (Apsáalooke [Crow] and Northern Cheyenne) for B Yellowtail, Old Time Floral Elk Tooth dress, Apsáalooke Collection, 2014. 7 of 19Annie Garau 8 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 9 of 19"Mohawk" by Carla HemlockAnnie Garau 10 of 19Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw) for Mahota Handwovens, The Messenger (The Owl) cape and headpiece, from the Mahotan Collection, 2014.National Museum of the American Indian 11 of 19"The Messenger" by Margaret Roach WheelerNational Museum of the American Indian 12 of 19Jamie OkumaAnnie Garau 13 of 19Annie Garau 14 of 19David Gaussoin and Wayne Nez Gaussoin (Diné [Navajo]/ Picuris Pueblo), Postmodern Boa, 2009.National Museum of the American Indian 15 of 19Annie Garau 16 of 19Mike Bird-Romero (Ohkay Owingeh [San Juan] and Taos Pueblos), and Eddie Begay (Diné [Navajo]), bracelets, 2000–10. National Museum of the American Indian 17 of 19Annie Garau 18 of 19Annie Garau 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
Share
- Share
1 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 2 of 19Orlando Dugi (Diné [Navajo]), cape, dress, and headdress from “Desert Heat” collection, 2012National Museum of the American Indian 3 of 19Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock), boots, 2013–14. Glass beads on boots designed by Christian Louboutin. National Museum of the American Indian 4 of 19Jared Yazzie (Diné [Navajo]) for OxDx, Native Americans Discovered Columbus t-shirt, 2012.National Museum of the American Indian 5 of 19Moccasins made from reclaimed computer parts by Barry AceAnnie Garau 6 of 19Bethany Yellowtail (Apsáalooke [Crow] and Northern Cheyenne) for B Yellowtail, Old Time Floral Elk Tooth dress, Apsáalooke Collection, 2014. 7 of 19Annie Garau 8 of 19National Museum of the American Indian 9 of 19"Mohawk" by Carla HemlockAnnie Garau 10 of 19Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw) for Mahota Handwovens, The Messenger (The Owl) cape and headpiece, from the Mahotan Collection, 2014.National Museum of the American Indian 11 of 19"The Messenger" by Margaret Roach WheelerNational Museum of the American Indian 12 of 19Jamie OkumaAnnie Garau 13 of 19Annie Garau 14 of 19David Gaussoin and Wayne Nez Gaussoin (Diné [Navajo]/ Picuris Pueblo), Postmodern Boa, 2009.National Museum of the American Indian 15 of 19Annie Garau 16 of 19Mike Bird-Romero (Ohkay Owingeh [San Juan] and Taos Pueblos), and Eddie Begay (Diné [Navajo]), bracelets, 2000–10. National Museum of the American Indian 17 of 19Annie Garau 18 of 19Annie Garau 19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
1 of 19National Museum of the American Indian
2 of 19Orlando Dugi (Diné [Navajo]), cape, dress, and headdress from “Desert Heat” collection, 2012National Museum of the American Indian
3 of 19Jamie Okuma (Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock), boots, 2013–14. Glass beads on boots designed by Christian Louboutin. National Museum of the American Indian
4 of 19Jared Yazzie (Diné [Navajo]) for OxDx, Native Americans Discovered Columbus t-shirt, 2012.National Museum of the American Indian
5 of 19Moccasins made from reclaimed computer parts by Barry AceAnnie Garau
6 of 19Bethany Yellowtail (Apsáalooke [Crow] and Northern Cheyenne) for B Yellowtail, Old Time Floral Elk Tooth dress, Apsáalooke Collection, 2014.
7 of 19Annie Garau
8 of 19National Museum of the American Indian
9 of 19"Mohawk" by Carla HemlockAnnie Garau
10 of 19Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw) for Mahota Handwovens, The Messenger (The Owl) cape and headpiece, from the Mahotan Collection, 2014.National Museum of the American Indian
11 of 19"The Messenger" by Margaret Roach WheelerNational Museum of the American Indian
12 of 19Jamie OkumaAnnie Garau
13 of 19Annie Garau
14 of 19David Gaussoin and Wayne Nez Gaussoin (Diné [Navajo]/ Picuris Pueblo), Postmodern Boa, 2009.National Museum of the American Indian
15 of 19Annie Garau
16 of 19Mike Bird-Romero (Ohkay Owingeh [San Juan] and Taos Pueblos), and Eddie Begay (Diné [Navajo]), bracelets, 2000–10. National Museum of the American Indian
17 of 19Annie Garau
18 of 19Annie Garau
19 of 19Like this gallery?Share it:
Share
Native American Fashion Isn’t All Headdresses And Moccasins View Gallery
Native American Fashion Isn’t All Headdresses And Moccasins View Gallery
Native American Fashion Isn’t All Headdresses And Moccasins View Gallery
Native American Fashion Isn’t All Headdresses And Moccasins View Gallery
Native American Fashion Isn’t All Headdresses And Moccasins
View Gallery
Debuting this month, the Native Fashion Now exhibit seeks to change assumptions about Native American culture through the lens of clothing.
“What’s really, I think, exciting about this exhibition is that it really breaks down stereotypes that people might have about how native people express themselves,” said Kathleen Ash-Milby, the curatorial liaison for the exhibit.
With strikingly chic and edgy looks, the displayed works from about 60 artists highlight traditional Native American symbolism and, at the same time, seem right at home in New York City during fashion week.
Hot pink leather jackets, moccasins made from computer chips, and an arrow quiver with a faux Louis Vuitton print are just a few examples of how designers can use clothes to remind viewers that American tribes are part of – and progressing right along with – 21st century America.
The exhibit, which was originally put together by the Peabody Essex Museum, is the first to ever focus exclusively on contemporary Native American fashion designers.
This, according to those behind the exhibit, is especially important in an industry that has historically appropriated these styles and, in doing so, frequently stripped them of their meaning.
“When I look at what non-native designers have done when they have appropriated symbols and iconography from native culture, I feel like there’s almost a cut-and-paste kind of way that they do it,” Ash-Milby said. “There’s much more depth in these works by native designers. Because there’s actually a formal understanding of what they’re using.”
And with that understanding, native designers feel that they are starting to get the representation that they deserve.
“I’ve had my own experiences with larger brands literally taking my designs – designs that are specific to my family even,” featured designer Bethany Yellowtail said. “And it’s really frustrating because it feels as though we aren’t capable of doing it ourselves.”
“It’s like taking our voice from us and just saying, ‘Oh, I’ve got this. I’ll do it.’ And not acknowledging that we’re contemporary people, we’re capable people. So yeah, I get mad as hell.”
Yellowtail – who has designed pieces for the Bernie Sanders Campaign, the pipeline protests in North Dakota and the Women’s March on Washington – sees fashion as a tool for bridging the cultural divide between native people and other Americans.
“I believe that people want to know how to be better allies,” she said. “And I know that fashion can be used as a catalyst for that.”
Above, check out some of the most stunning looks from the exhibit.
Next, take a look at these stunning Native American masks from the early 20th century as well as Edward Curtis’ striking vintage photos of Native American culture.
