Native Fashion Week Santa Fe debuts to sold-out crowds

SANTA FE—On May 8, Native Fashion Week Santa Fe (NFWSF) debuted with sold out crowds, raving media reviews, and celebrations that ignited Indigenous fashion. The four-day event was curated by Amber Dawn Bear Robe and included educational panels, popup markets, receptions, and runway shows that brought more than thirty Indigenous fashion designers representing Indigenous people from the U.S., Canada and beyond. Everything was on display, both on the runway and off.

“Native Fashion Week Santa Fe was a powerful reminder that Indigenous fashion is not just about style—it’s about presence, power, and reclaiming space,” said NFWSW founder Amber Dawn Bear Robe in an interview with Frybread Art. “My biggest takeaway was witnessing how our designers, models, and community came together to show the world that we are not only here—we are leading, innovating, and we are the original design language of North America.”

The simultaneous hosting of Santé Fe NFWSF and SWAIA’s Native Fashion Week in May 2025 had a profound impact on Santa Fe, immersing the city in Indigenous fashion, art, culture, and representation on an unprecedented scale. These two major events, both created and inspired by Bear Robe, together brought together some of the most renowned names in the indigenous fashion industry, highlighting the rich craftsmanship and innovative use of traditional materials. Designers pushed boundaries by showcasing bold new interpretations of silk ribbons, appliqué, hides, beadwork, quillwork, and dentalium shells—traditions that have been passed down through generations among many tribes. The events also featured striking screen-printed Indigenous designs and patterns on a wide array of items, including dresses, jackets, shirts, umbrellas, purses, bags, hats, and even skateboards, amplifying Indigenous voices and artistry across multiple platforms.

NFWSF featured thirty designers including Original Landlords, Creator’s Kids Co., Nar Raw Ekar, Rebecca Baker Grenier, Lauren Good Day, Ganvhida Designs, Jennifer Lamont Designs, Penny Singer, T.O.C. Legends, Lesley Hampton, Ayimach_ Horizons, EMME Studio, Nonamey, Apache Skateboards x Douglas Miles, Threads by Thea, Products of My Environment x The Son of Picasso, ASEPdesigns, SACRD THNDR, Relative Arts NYC, Darcy Big Horse, Dorothy Grant Studio, Ocean Kiana, Pacha Indigenous Art Collection, Native Nation Designs, Randi Nelson, Running Horse Studio, Alex Vigil Apparel, and Orlando Dugi.

“Santa Fe was absolutely bustling with fashionistas (both Native and non-Native), all eager to witness Indigenous designers unveil their latest collections and to uplift these entrepreneurs via some stylish shopping,” said Kate Nelson, an award winning Tlingit journalist, to Frybread Art. There wasn’t a quiet moment all week, with concurrent runway shows, popup events, and spirited parties taking place across town. It felt like Native Fashion Week—marked by plenty of conviviality, camaraderie, and color—truly came into its own.”

Event reviews were published in many fashion publications including Vogue Magazine, Forbes Magazine, and Fashionista, as well as every Indigenous and local publication in New Mexico. The Associated Press reported from SWAIA’s event while the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA) published a review of NFWSF. CDFA’s Chief Executive Officer Steven Kolb attended NFWSF, and spoke on a panel with Jamie Okuma, who is the first Indigenous fashion designer inducted into the CFDA. The CFDA organizes New York Fashion Week, which is held every February and September throughout the Manhattan borough of New York City.

“Jamie didn’t become a member because she’s an Indigenous designer, she became a member because she’s a really good designer,” said CFDA CEO Steven Kolb during NFWSF’s educational panel on Friday, May 9 held at The Railyard Farmer’s Market. “There has not been a lot done specifically for Indigenous designers and there are a few programs the CFDA has in place that I think are good templates or models of how we can support the Indigenous community.”

Kolb was one of NFWSF’s invited guests and spoke about access to fashion while creating programs that can give up-and-coming fashion designers an upper hand. He shared ideas of apprentice programs at well-known luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co. in Manhattan, where apprentices are paid to learn while being mentored by other master jewelers. “I think we, at CDFA, can do something like that,” he said.

“The week was thoughtfully produced and we’re grateful to Amber-Dawn Bear Robe for her expertise and leadership,” said Korina Emmerich, Relative Arts NYC’s co-founder, to Frybread Art. “We appreciate the care she put into making NFWxSF an accessible event for both designers and the public. This isn’t just a fashion show, it’s an important part of the movement.”

Emmerich also presented her brand EMME Studio’s SEEDS Collection during one of the panel discussions on Friday. She founded the slow fashion brand EMME Studio in 2015, where she said the brand’s inspiration from land stewardship and nature’s propagation systems—from root to stem. “SEEDS was born from our inherent relationship with the land and the responsibilities that come with it,” she said. “The collection is made mainly from upcycled and sustainable textiles and explores how we can reimagine fashion through sustainable and regenerative design.”

“We also had the opportunity to present Relative Arts’ first-ever runway show, which was such a proud and exciting moment

Bringing Relative Arts to the runway marked a milestone in our journey,” Emmerich said.

Relative Arts is a brick-and-mortar community space, open studio, and shop that showcases contemporary Indigenous fashion and design in New York City’s East Village. Providing a peer-run space that fosters the advancement of Indigenous futurism through collaboration, celebration, and education.

Many designers have been in the industry for several decades including Haida fashion designer Dorothy Grant who began her career by etching Haida design on clothing in the 1980s. Her designs have been displayed at museums throughout Canada, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. and she spoke on an education panel, on Friday, May 9, and commented that the current movement in the Indigenous fashion industry has always been about decolonizing. “You all being here is decolonizing,” she said to her other panelists, who were other Indigenous fashion designers from Canada. “Fashion has given us a different platform that we didn’t have before.”

Native Fashion Week brought additional efforts to celebrate the growing Indigenous fashion movement, including two-days of concerts and fashion shows organized by Native Guitars Tour, and two mini-fashion shows organized by Native Max Magazine at the Santa Fe Railyard. This is Native Max’s second year organizing events with Native Fashion Week events in Santa Fe. This year, the event featured five Indigenous fashion designers including Afro-Amazonia Wear by Samara Tobeck, Queena Ribbon Designs by Tina Bradley, Bitterwater for Redhouse by Michelle Luna, Nar Raw Ear by Shoshoni Hostler, and Rebekah Jarvey.

“Being part of Native Fashion Week in Santa Fe was an unforgettable experience— wearing multiple hats as a designer, assistant, model, and proud mom allowed me to embrace every facet of the creative process,” said Rebekah Jarvey, who showcased her designs for Native Guitars Tour and Native Max Magazine, to Frybread Magazine. “I loved every moment, from the runway to the backstage, celebrating tradition, innovation, and the love of Native fashion.”

Of course, the events brought many familiar faces including “Dark Winds” director Zahn McClarnon (Lakota), Oscar winning actor Wes Studi (Cherokee), “Wonder Woman” actor Eugene Brave Rock (Blackfoot), Ralph Lauren collaborator and traditional weaver Naomi Glasses (Diné), “Dark Winds” actors Kiowa Gordon (Hualapai) and Jessica Matten (Metis), “Prey” producer Jhane Myers (Blackfoot and Comanche), and former U.S. Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo).

“Attending Native Fashion Week in Santa Fe was inspiring — it’s not just about fashion, it’s about witnessing the creativity, culture, and storytelling of our people on a global stage,” said Kelly Holmes, Native Max Magazine’s founder and editor, to Frybread Magazine. “I left feeling re-energized and proud to be part of this movement.”

After the week’s events, Relative Arts NYC announced on Instagram that it was organizing the first-ever Indigenous New York Fashion Week with a kick-off event at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on September 10, 2025. Relative Arts shared they have been organizing with others in New York City for more than two years, and more details such as locations and designers will be announced in July. 50 Indigenous designers will be chosen, with many based in New York.

“Indigenous New York Fashion Week was built from the need to create a safe space for Indigenous designers to be seen, celebrated and supported during iconic New York Fashion Week,” Emmerich, of Relative Arts, said. “We’ll be showing many New York based talents and beyond during the show including art, music and performance art with some incredible emerging and legendary designers.

Indigenous New York Fashion Week is scheduled September 10 through 15.

Darren Thompson is the Managing Editor for the Last Real Indians Native News Desk and Director of Media Relations for the Sacred Defense Fund, a nonprofit organization based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He covers tribal sovereignty, environment and social justice, and Indigenous music, arts, and film. He can reached at darren@sacreddefense.org

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