The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) announce this year’s Indigenous Fashion Show lineup will include Jason Baerg, Himikalas Pam Baker, Rebecca Baker-Grenier, Orlando Dugi, Lauren Good Day, Jontay KAHM, Dusty LeGrand of Mobilize, Elias Not Afraid, Qaulluq Clara McConnell and Jamie Okuma, who is the first Indigenous designer to become a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA).
The Gala Fashion Show takes place Saturday, Aug. 19, followed by the Indigenous Fashion Show, Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Santa Fe Convention Center. VIP, regular seating and standing-room tickets sell out quickly and will be available at swaia.org beginning on May 15.
Participating designers create new collections to debut on SWAIA’s runway. With modern takes on traditional clothing, SWAIA Fashion feature dynamically emerging designers, fresh faces to the runway and distinguished leaders in Indigenous Couture.
Another development is the partnership between SWAIA Fashion and the Ford/Robert Black Modeling Agency.
SWAIA Fashion and Ford/Robert Black modeling agency, are conducting a model search from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 3, at the Cottonwood Mall in Albuquerque, N.M. For information about model auditions, email models@swaia.org
SWAIA Native Fashion /Indigenous Couture makes space for underrepresented histories and current narratives in fashion and design by Native North Americans. Contemporary Native American fashion is a vibrant and diverse field that reflects the creativity and innovation of Indigenous knowledge expressed through material culture.
SWAIA Fashion, with the support of the City of Santa Fe, will produce Santa Fe’s first Native Fashion|Indigenous Couture Week in May 2024.
Photo: Quannah Chasinghorse wearing Lauren Good Day on the SWAIA runway. Photo© Tira Howard Photography for SWAIA
