“Santa Fe was absolutely bustling with fashionistas (both Native and non-Native), all eager to witness Indigenous designers unveil their latest collections,” said Kate Nelson, an award-winning Tlingit journalist. “There wasn’t a quiet moment all week, with concurrent runway shows, popup events, and spirited parties taking place across town.”
The event garnered significant media attention, with reviews published in Vogue Magazine, Forbes Magazine, and Fashionista, as well as Indigenous and local New Mexico publications. The Associated Press covered SWAIA’s concurrent event, while the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) published a review of NFWSF.
CFDA Chief Executive Officer Steven Kolb attended the event and participated in educational panels alongside Jamie Okuma, the first Indigenous fashion designer inducted into the CFDA. Kolb emphasized the importance of supporting Indigenous designers through mentorship and apprenticeship programs similar to those at luxury brands like Tiffany & Co.
“Jamie didn’t become a member because she’s Indigenous designer, she became a member because she’s a really good designer,” Kolb said during a panel discussion. “There has not been a lot done specific for Indigenous designers and there are a few programs the CFDA has in place that I think are good templates.”
Among the featured designers was Korina Emmerich, co-founder of Relative Arts NYC, who presented her EMME Studio’s SEEDS Collection. The slow fashion brand, founded in 2015, draws inspiration from land stewardship and sustainable design practices.
“The week was thoughtfully produced and we’re grateful to Amber-Dawn Bear Robe for her expertise and leadership,” Emmerich said. “This isn’t just a fashion show, it’s an important part of the movement.”
Veteran designer Dorothy Grant, who began etching Haida designs on clothing in the 1980s, spoke about the decolonizing aspect of the Indigenous fashion movement. “You all being here is decolonizing,” she told fellow panelists. “Fashion has given us a different platform that we didn’t have before.”
