Late last month 100 th Santa Fe Indian Market kicked off – one of the biggest events of the year in the city , Indigenous artists from North America come together to showcase and sell their work – a special fashion exhibition debuting at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Indigenous Art. Similar to the target of the Indian market, the new “Aboriginal Fashion Art” exhibition will run until January next year 2023 and aims to focus on contemporary Aboriginal fashion. It proves that indigenous design is not one specific thing, but varies greatly according to the artist’s tribe, location and style. “There is no one way to explain Aboriginal fashion,” said Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, the exhibition’s guest curator.
New exhibition will be at 20 Contemporary Indigenous Designers and is specifically dedicated to highlighting the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Alumni – The Academy is an influential fine arts institution in Santa Fe, where many notable Indigenous artists have studied and perfected their craft since its inception established. Participating in the exhibition are Lloyd Kiva New, Jamie Okuma, Patricia Michaels, Sho Sho Esquiro, Virgil Ortiz, Orlando Dugi and Teri Greeves. “The inspiration was to present a snapshot of North American Indigenous fashion from an Indigenous perspective, showcasing designers who are often overlooked in mainstream media,” Bear Robe said. “Showcase the diverse narratives created by home-grown designers and demonstrate how each design transcends the story and meaning of visual beauty.”
at the show are those that combine traditional craftsmanship with a modern perspective. For example, Marcus Amerman’s black leather jacket from 1983 features a beaded pattern featuring a nude Brook with butterfly wings · Shields (Brook Shields). “Marcus was instrumental in the IAIA fashion shows and brought them to various locations outside of Santa Fe,” Bear Robe said. “His role in homegrown fashion is fascinating; he wants fashion that is not seen in the mainstream and represents what he or he wants to wear.” Jamie Okuma’s dental shell dress is back in on the Santa Fe Indian Market runway – combining traditional craftsmanship with a more edgy silhouette. “It was made for a specific model Moonstar,” Bear Robe said. “Many of the garments at the show debuted on the [Santa Fe Indian Market] runway. The market has always been an important venue for Indigenous designers to showcase their work.”
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Other highlights in the exhibit include hand-beaded Converse pumps by Teri Greeves; vibrant ribbon work dresses by Lauren Good Day; and foxes and ferns by Yolonda Skelton Class image cape. While all of these garments are different in production and aesthetics, Bear Robe draws attention to their similarities: primarily their innovation, and their sense of carrying forward cultural traditions in new, unexpected ways. “[I want people] to witness the diversity of contemporary indigenous art and design unique to each designer,” said Bear Robe of the exhibition. “I want to promote and highlight Aboriginal fashion art – showing the importance of art to Aboriginal fashion and design.”
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