Santa Fe Indian Market 2011 Fashion Events

Ok ya'll! It's August! Well, it's been August for over a week now, but I'm just now catching on. And since it's August, that means Beyond Buckskin will be featuring information about the upcoming Santa Fe Indian Market, to be held August 20-21, 2011.

Now, if you know anything about Indian Market, you'll know that the fun stuff isn't just on Saturday and Sunday, it is also on the days preceding the event.

I'm very excited about this year, because there will be fashion-related events on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (What's that? No Saturday? Well, I'll find some 'fashionable' Indians to spotlight on this blog as a 'Saturday Night Special' of sorts - yea?! **NOTE: I found a Saturday fashion event! See the addition below).

Here's the list of events that you can catch me at!:

WHAT: Opulance Fashion Reception
WHEN: Thursday, August 18, from 5-7pm
WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
DEETS: A Fashion event not to be missed. The Tsosie-Gaussoin designers, Connie Tsosie Gaussoin, David Gaussoin, and Wayne Nez Gaussoin collaborate with Orlando Dugi, for a special Pre-NDN market premiere. Experience a rare collection of work, that is an exception to the standards. Enjoy live Models, Art, Music, Food, n Fun. Free event.

WHAT: The Wheelwright Museum's Annual Art for Wear Event
WHEN: Friday, August 19, from 10:30am–12:30pm
WHERE: The Wheelwright Museum
DEETS: The museum hasn't posted an official press release yet, but typically, the Art for Wear showcase hosts some of the premier Native fashion designers. In the past, these designers have included Patricia Michaels, Pilar Agoyo, Penny Singer, Teri Greeves, Margaret Roach Wheeler, and TahNibaa Naat'aanii. The casual atmosphere makes for a great opportunity to meet and talk with the designers (and try on some of the gear!). What's also cool is that the museum's store, the Case Trading Post has some dope Loloma jewelry (pictured above).

WHAT: Fashion Show, Fashion Party, Indian Market 2011
WHEN: Friday, August 19, starting at 7:30pm
WHERE: El Farol, 808 Canyon Road
DEETS: Three Navajo fashion designers get together to host a fashion event during Indian Market. Designers include Martini Couture, Walter Barney, and Consuelo Pascual. Gary Blackchild and guests performing. Sound and Lighting by The Sound Gallery. Model Management Group, ROMERO ENT.

WHAT: Northwest Coast Traditional/Contemporary Fashion Review
WHEN: Saturday, August 20, at 2pm
WHERE: The Sealaska Pavilion in Cathedral Park across from MoCNA
DEETS: The Native nonprofit Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) and its founder Sealaska Corporation are planning Native art demonstrations, art sales, dance-and-cultural performances and a high fashion show to spotlight the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Hoonah’s Louise Kadinger will showcase Tlingit fur and skin sewing and Sitka’s Nicholas Galanin will feature Tlingit silver works. Contemporary work from Haida designer Dorothy Grant from Vancouver will be featured in a fashion show as well as Kadinger’s sea otter wear. Besides performing six dances, the St. Elias troupe dancers will also showcase their traditional regalia.

WHAT: SWAIA Indian Market Native American Clothing Contest
WHEN: Sunday, August 21, from 9am-12pm.
WHERE: Santa Fe Plaza
DEETS: Indian Market’s Clothing Contest is a visually inspiring competition with over 125 contestants and 18 design categories. Traditional categories will be judged by seven distinguished Native American judges from various tribes as well as a celebrity judge for the Contemporary categories. (And I'll be volunteering!)

If more events pop up, I'll be sure to update this list. Cheerio!

Martini Couture Beaded Earrings

Dii Martin of Martini Couture has created a bunch of new accessories that include these beaded earrings. They are nice and long, and lengths run between 5 to 6 inches. Find Martini Couture on Facebook if you'd like to order a set (prices range from $10-$25). Bye-bye Urban Outfitters (support Native-made Native fashion!)

Ancestral Treasures Fashion Show

Recently, fifteen Native fashion designers came together for a fashion show at the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix in support of the Mesa Community Colleges Hoop of Learning Program.

The program is one of six bridge programs within Maricopa Community College District that offers Native high school students the opportunity to begin their career journey while in high school. Students can earn college and high school credit concurrently all while participating in a program whose goal is to increase academic achievements and prepare students for a successful transition into a post secondary setting.

Jackson Harris, the Program Coordinator, organized the event, bringing designers together from throughout the southwest to showcase their garments and give Hoop of Learning students a glimpse of the fashion industry.

Harris explained, "This is a perfect chance for some of my students to look around and see what is being offered to them. Some of the students may want to become a designer, a photographer or event planner in the future."

The theme of the show was "Ancestral Treasures Expressed Through Fashion."

Most of the designers incorporated a pop/modern twist to their collections. RVSO DSGN, Apache Skateboards, Martini Couture, UN3EK SY5TEM, and Nizhoni Apparel (see video below) were all on the roster.

RVSO DESGN:



UN3EK SY5TEM:


Apache Skateboards:



Martini Couture:




Nizhoni Way Apparel:



(Images are all designers' own, unless otherwise noted)

Click here to read more.

Martini Couture at Scottsdale Fashion Week

Martini Couture in Scottsdale
Last month, Martini Couture (by Dii Martin of the Navajo Nation) was featured during the annual Scottsdale Fashion Week in Arizona.

Scottsdale Fashion Week is one of the premiere fashion events in the Southwest, and Martini Couture opened the Friday night set. She’s a rising star on the fashion set, pumping out high-end rez streetwear packed with a ton of attitude and cute little cocktail dresses well-suited for a night out on the town. Martini Couture was also featured (along with several other Native designers) at a fundraising event held later in November at the Heard Museum (more to come).


“I loved every minute of SFW. I’m so proud of myself to have jumped at the opportunity. I would love to do it again, even try for other fashion weeks in different cities.”




“I heard a Native designer was going to be at the Scottsdale Fashion Week back in 2007. It was Virgil Ortiz. I went to the show and loved it. I said to myself - someday I will be here...”





“When the finale dress came about, I felt at the highest moment in my life – I’M HERE! at SCOTTSDALE FASHION WEEK!”


To read more about Martini Couture, click here.

November 2010: Upcoming Native Fashion Events!

Check out these upcoming Native fashion events happening throughout (Urban) Indian Country! (click on the pink links for more information about each event):

Native Fashion with Social Action Fashion Show in Los Angeles
Red Nation is the New Glam - Nov 3-9, 2010: more info coming soon.
Since 2005, Red Nation Film Festival The Authentic Voice of American Indian Indigenous Cinema has presented exclusive screenings, Oscars nominated films, spirit award nominated films, Native Women in Film & Television presentations, as well as a fashion show (Native Fashion with Social Action, Red Nation is the NEW Glam), all under the commitment to keeping American Indian image at the forefront of the entertainment industries and the world at large.

Martini Couture in Scottsdale
On November 5, Martini Couture (by Dii Martin of the Navajo Nation) will be featured during the annual Scottsdale Fashion Week. She will also be a part of an upcoming fashion show at the Heard Museum in Phoenix on November 20 (more info to come).

Patricia Michaels in New Mexico
Taos fashion designer Patricia Michaels has been busy with a photo shoot in Taos for ELLE France featuring her PM Waterlily Designs. She also will be participating on Nov. 6 in a fashion show and fundraiser for New Mexico Tribal Libraries at Isleta Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Native Model Studio Fashion Show in Winnipeg
NMS is hosting their annual Pink Party on November 6, featuring performance by various Native DJs and performers, and a fashion show with designs by Disa Tootoosis, Sho Sho Esquiro, Swirling Winds Design, Turquoise Soul, and Ruby Feathers.

Bethany Yellowtail in Winnipeg
On November 7, Wood Events Planning is hosting a Fashion Show featuring Los Angeles fashion designer B.Yellowtail, who will be launching her new Fall/Winter 2010 line while being shot live by Thoshography. The party will also feature Native DJs and singers - so check it out!

Designer Profile | Martini Couture

Martini Couture by Dii Martin

This past weekend I attended the Indigenous Image fashion show during the Gathering of Nations events in Albuquerque, NM. Hosted by Brian Vallie and JaNae Collins, the show featured four Native designers: Consuelo Pascual, Dii Martin, Danita Strawberri, and Mildred Carpenter. The models were beautiful and all of the designs were fun and outstanding. I decided to dig up some info on these designers and feature them this week. So here’s your first one - Martini Couture by Dii Martin of the Navajo Nation! The information below is from her myspace page, and all images are my own (shot at the fashion show - many thanks to the models for stopping for me so I could get these good shots!).


A Navajo martini,
mixture of colors,
splish-splash of this,
a shake of that,
and the party... swooned a creative being.
an artistic mofo spanked with talents beyond its measures.
and
an imagination... incestuous with ideas.

"Martini Couture" was created in summer of 2008. It was during one of my moment of laziness that I was slapped with an imagination I couldn't shake. In a split moment, all sorts of designs flashed through my mind. It was an overwhelming but yet exciting awaking. Immediately, I fumbled through my materials and I started to sketch out my future creations. As I trampled through the materials, WOW.... visions of funky and outrageous designs emerged. After that blissful moment, I decided on a dark theme for my first collection.

To brush up on my skills, I thought it was best to start with some ready-to-wear garments. Then towards the end of the year, I decided to throw some sportswear into the mix, the Hoodie Collections. Eventually, my signature designs will be the "Haute Couture" collections.