Native-Inspired Collections at New York Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week wrapped up this past weekend, and there were several Native-inspired collections presented on the runways. Below is a short list of the collections that demonstrated Native American themes.


ADAM
• This line was inspired by a recent trip to New York’s National Museum of the American Indian. Head designer Adam Lippes said, "I have long felt the American Indian culture to be one of the most beautiful and I walked away from this visit inspired." For more info, click here .

Rag & Bone
• The brand's new collection borrowed from "Eskimos, Inuits, Native Americans and Siberians" — with a few '70s skiers thrown in. For more info, click here.

Cushnie et Ochs
• This collection featured leather, fringe, feathers, and other Native American influences. A road trip from LA to Vegas inspired Carly and Michelle, the designer duo behind Cushnie et Ochs, to bring some fringe and feathers to their Fall collection. Metro.us asked the designers at Cushnie et Ochs, "What was your inspiration for fall?" and they responded: "The collection became about Western travel — like a sultry, sexy vagabond traveling around. We looked at Native American silhouettes also, so it was kinda that mixed together. It was taking some of the Native American references, like the elastic boning and the fringes, and cleaning them up." For more info, click here or here or here or here.



Diane von Furstenberg
• Three icons of old-school style and allure were muse choices for Diane von Furstenberg's 'American Legend'-themed show for Fall 2011, and one of them included Millicent Rogers - a grand Standard Oil dame who had a thing for Native American and Rodeo wear. For more info, click here.

Rodarte
• Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte booties drew on a Native theme, with beaded crystal patterns clearly inspired by Native American designs. For more info, click here.

Band of Outsiders
• The Band of Outsiders show evoked university graduates in college scarves, Native American-inspired graphic cardigans and wool blanket coats. For more info, click here or here.

Proenza Schouler
• Proenza Schouler goes into the West. Head designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough were inspired by a road trip across the “Wild West,” from Santa Fe to Wyoming, where they collected Native American blankets and textiles. The geometric patterns and other objects were scanned, then manipulated on a computer and turned into wool jacquards. For more info, click here or here or here.





Sophie Theallet
• Sophie Theallet said that the grace and strength that is apparent in the lifestyle of Native Americans inspired this latest collection. In the developing stages of this collection, she said she spent considerable time at a Canadian reserve (though she doesn't say which one) to inspect the elements of Native clothes from close quarters. She said that the beauty and grace apparent in the clothes of these people deeply touched her heart. For more info, click here.