Back in Mid-May, in Santa Fe, the earth shook — not with tremors, but with fabric, feathers, fringe, and fire. The inaugural Native Fashion Week Santa Fe didn’t just showcase clothes. It rewrote the fashion story — in 600 looks, 150 models, and the ancestral heartbeat of 30 visionary designers.

This wasn’t just a runway show. It was a reclamation. A renaissance. A rupture.

Forget the industry’s tendency to tokenize and appropriate — Native designers didn’t come to participate. They came to dominate. And it’s about time the world listened.

Fashion’s Original Blueprint

Long before luxury labels made fringe sexy or plastered tribal prints onto polyester, Native communities were crafting wearable art from meaning, story, and soul. Beadwork, quillwork, natural dyes, hand-tanned leather — these were not trends. They were language. History. Identity. And they still are.

Let’s be clear: cultural inspiration isn’t the issue. Appropriation is. For decades, major brands pillaged Native aesthetics without credit or care — turning sacred motifs into fast-fashion fodder.

Now, Indigenous designers are flipping the narrative. They’re reclaiming their roots, spotlighting ancestral technique, and proving something the fashion world is finally catching onto: Native fashion isn’t just beautiful — it’s visionary.

From Margins to Mainstage

Mainstream fashion has long treated Indigenous creativity like a guest star — occasionally featured, rarely celebrated. But Native Fashion Week Santa Fe, powered by curator and powerhouse Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, just kicked that door down.

The media noticed. VOGUE. Forbes. Fashionista. The CFDA. Not fringe mentions — features.

And what did the world see?

Designers who weren’t just making clothes — they were making statements.

Runway Royalty: Designers Who Redefined the Game

Sho Sho Esquiro (Kaska Dene/Cree)

Her work? Haute couture meets political resistance. Think hand-sewn elk teeth, fire-colored silks, and raw, unapologetic power. She doesn’t design for trends. She designs to disrupt.

TOUCH Tip: Follow her for powerful storytelling through texture.

Korina Emmerich (Puyallup)

Known for sculptural silhouettes and climate activism, Korina fuses bold graphics with cultural symbolism. Her color-blocked coats? Museum-worthy. Her message? We belong in the future.

TOUCH Tip: Shop slow, intentional fashion from her brand EMME Studio.

Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock)

From beading Barbie shoes to redefining contemporary Native fashion, Okuma is a master of hybridization. Her custom boots and layered garments fuse traditional beadwork with editorial-level drama.

TOUCH Tip: Check out her limited-edition pieces — they’re investment-level icons.

Culture in Every Stitch

Every garment at NFW carried more than a design — it carried meaning. Symbols weren’t ornamental — they were ancestral. Colors weren’t trendy — they were sacred. Patterns weren’t seasonal — they were stories.

That elk tooth? A symbol of sustenance.
That indigo dye? A connection to land and ritual.
That beadwork? Generational artistry passed hand to hand.

Decode the Look: Native fashion isn’t just for show — it’s a language. Learn it, don’t exploit it.

Sustainability, But Make It Sacred

While the fashion industry scrambles to “green” its image, Indigenous designers are already there. Why? Because their work is rooted in reciprocity — respect for the Earth, the maker, and the wearer.

• Slow production.
• Local sourcing.
• Zero-waste practices.
• Ethical storytelling.

This isn’t new. It’s just finally getting recognition.

TOUCH Tip: Want to wear your values? Buy from Indigenous designers. You’re not just getting a look — you’re investing in a legacy.

What’s Next? The Future Is Native

Native Fashion Week Santa Fe is just getting started. More designers. More platforms. More unapologetic brilliance.

Follow @nativefashionweeksantafe now — and stay ready. The revolution won’t wait.

TOUCH RECOMMENDS: ACTIONABLE LINKS

• Follow & Shop: Sho Sho Esquiro, Korina Emmerich, Jamie Okuma.
• Support: Donate to Indigenous fashion orgs like Indigenous Fashion Arts.
• Read: “Native Fashion Now” by Karen Kramer.
• Watch: NFW reels on Instagram — cultural beauty, unfiltered.

Native fashion isn’t a footnote.
It isn’t a moment.
It’s the origin.
It’s the now.
And it’s the next.

Time to stop watching from the sidelines — and start walking with intention.