This past weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the streets transformed into a vibrant runway as throngs of well-dressed Indigenous artists, designers, and attendees gathered for the second annual Santa Fe Native Fashion Week. Swathed in flowing gowns, traditional beadwork, and glistening dentalium shells, the city’s fashion scene pulsed with the energy of celebration and cultural pride—marking a major moment for contemporary Indigenous design.
While the Santa Fe Indian Market in August remains the region’s flagship event, Native Fashion Week is fast emerging as a major player in its own right. More than 50 designers from Indigenous nations across North America presented their latest collections, delivering a breathtaking fusion of ancestral craftsmanship and modern aesthetics. The result? A city-wide takeover of creativity, expression, and unapologetic Indigenous brilliance.
A Tapestry of Traditions and Modernity
The dual events of SWAIA Native Fashion Week and Native Fashion Week Santa Fe made for a packed schedule, spotlighting a broad spectrum of Indigenous talent—from veteran designers to rising stars. While the designers’ visions varied widely, they were united by a common mission: to carry forward traditional stories, materials, and techniques in a way that feels powerful, progressive, and deeply personal.
Dorothy Grant, a legendary Haida designer, brought her signature Northwest Coast formline patterns to life through hand-appliquéd garments, while Pamela Baker, another renowned West Coast artist, continued her legacy of weaving identity into high fashion. Over at the shows hosted by Native Fashion Week Santa Fe, Lauren Good Day debuted a collection defined by earth-tone floral ledger prints, applied across organic cotton, silk, and tencel. “It was my interpretation of a neutral yet bold palette,” Good Day explained—offering garments that marry historic art forms with sustainability.
Penny Singer, a Navajo designer known for her vivid textiles, delivered bold ribbon shirts and jackets adorned with vibrant applique—a fresh twist on her heritage. Meanwhile, Ayimach Horizons, Alex Vigil Apparel, and Emme Studio showcased experimental silhouettes that toyed with proportion, texture, and futuristic flair, all while staying rooted in cultural symbolism.
Grounded in Craft: Ancestral Techniques on Display
Over at the SWAIA runway, designers leaned into more traditional materials and handcraft. Randi Nelson turned heads with a collection built from home-tanned hides, using a minimalist black and natural palette to highlight the organic beauty of the leather. “Home-tanned hide is a material of wealth,” Nelson said, noting that her collection was a deliberate interrogation of what defines luxury in today’s fashion world.
Vina Brown, the creative force behind Copper Canoe Woman, brought a bold edge to Indigenous adornment. Her wearable art pieces included shimmering bodychains made from abalone, dentalium shells, and even laser-cut acrylics—modern materials reimagined through the lens of traditional Pacific Northwest regalia. “Our ancestors were masterful in adorning themselves with what was available,” she said. “I love continuing that legacy through a contemporary lens.”
Designers like Livia Manywounds, Tishna Marlowe (Dene Couture), and Kaylyn Baker also presented collections that blended cultural specificity with fashion-forward polish—each garment a conversation between past and present, memory and innovation.
A Show-Stopping Moment for the Movement
Perhaps the most buzzed-about appearance of the weekend came from Adrian Stevens and Sean Snyder, the dynamic couple and creative collaborators known for blending dance, fashion, and fine art. Their runway debut featured sleek all-black ensembles paired with intricately beaded bags—homages to the Hermès Birkin, crafted entirely from traditional hides. The message was clear: Indigenous luxury has always existed—and now, it’s redefining the future of high fashion.
The surprise of the weekend, however, came courtesy of Deb Haaland, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and current New Mexico gubernatorial candidate. To the crowd’s delight, Haaland made an unexpected appearance walking for designer Patricia Michaels, creating a moment that underscored the political and cultural significance of the event.
More Than Fashion: A Movement in the Making
Santa Fe Native Fashion Week isn’t just about showcasing clothing. It’s about visibility, sovereignty, and storytelling. Each runway walk, each beaded earring, each embroidered hem serves as an act of remembrance and resistance—a celebration of Indigenous existence and excellence.
And though it’s only in its second year, Native Fashion Week is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting events in the fashion calendar. It’s a space where heritage and innovation meet, where designers don’t have to choose between honoring their ancestors and shaping bold new futures. They do both—and they do it with power and style.
As the final models walked off the runway and the weekend came to a close, one thing became abundantly clear: Native Fashion Week isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement. And it’s only getting started.
