In Santa Fe, Native Fashion Week Was a Celebration of Community

This past weekend, you could easily spot flocks of stylish Indigenous folks parading across Santa Fe, New Mexico—all decked out in their finest gowns, dentalium shell necklaces, and beaded earrings. The occasion for such peacocking? Santa Fe Native Fashion Week, a jam-packed weekend presenting new contemporary collections from Indigenous designers across North America. With tentpole events such as SWAIA Native Fashion Week and Native Fashion Week Santa Fe taking over the entire city, well-clad crowds gathered to celebrate and witness the innovative new shows—all of which stemmed from an exciting mix of artists from various regions and tribes.

While the Santa Fe Indian Market in August remains Santa Fe’s main draw, its Native Fashion Week (now in its second year) is fast becoming a hot ticket, too. Over 50 Indigenous designers took part in the weekend, each one debuting avant-garde creations with a poignant cultural flair. While the aesthetics and sensibilities of the designers ranged drastically, a similar spirit united them all—one of maintaining traditional Indigenous stories, motifs, and craftwork techniques in thrilling new ways.