This weekend, the inaugural SWAIA Native Fashion Week kicks off in Santa Fe. The event—which serves as an extension of the annual Santa Fe Indian Market in August—spotlights contemporary Indigenous fashion designers, all of whom will debut their new collections over the course of four days. It is the first Fashion Week of its kind in the country.
Every August, the Indigenous fashion show at the Santa Fe Indian Market is a highlight, and the new SWAIA Fashion Week evolved out of a growing appetite for Indigenous couture (not to mention the growing pool of talent creating just that). On the catwalks this weekend, 17 different Indigenous designers will show their new ready-to-wear designs, ranging from streetwear to evening attire.
While the artists’ regional and tribal backgrounds vary, reflecting the diversity of styles and perspectives found across the Indigenous community, they are all united in their innovation and desire to carry forward their traditional craftwork in new, unexpected ways.
Below, five artists showing at SWAIA Native Fashion Week that you should know.
Himikalas Pamela Baker
Veteran designer Pamela Baker—who is MusqamaqwDzawada’enuxw, Kwaguith, Tlingit, and Haida—is based in British Columbia, Canada, and best known for her use of West Coast motifs (including graphic Coast Salish prints applied to elegant evening tops and evening dresses). One of her striking robe coats was recently worn by Lily Gladstone on the red carpet.
Penny Singer
Based in Albuquerque, Penny Singer is a Navajo fashion designer specializing in handcrafted ribbon shirts. Her graphic, geometric appliqués are often applied to sleek collared shirts and finished in a variety of exuberant colors.
Orlando Dugi
Based in Santa Fe, Orlando Dugi is a Navajo (Diné) designer best known for his refined formalwear. Most recently his focus has been on creating men’s collections; the designer has made striped knits, lace button-up shirts, and dressy pleated trousers for nighttime.
Victoria Kakuktinniq
Victoria Kakuktinniq is an Inuk fashion designer from Nunavut, Canada. Through her label, Victoria’s Arctic Fashion, she has become well-known for her winter parkas, often finished with heavy-duty wools and various fur trims.
Uvaŋa Qaulluq
Uvaŋa Qaulluq is an Inupiaq designer who puts contemporary twists on her culture’s signature atikluk coats. The designer often combines luxurious materials with more traditional Inupiaq pattern designs and motifs, making for a fresh, modern end result.
