Designer Profile | Alano Edzerza

It’s high time that I do a profile on this rising star in the fashion world (who, by many regards, can already be considered established).

Hailing from the Tahltan Nation, Alano Edzerza is currently based out of Vancouver, where he operates his gallery. He belongs to the Raven Clan, and the important bird features prominently in his artwork.

Although this post is strictly on his fashion design and apparel, Edzerza also creates jewelry, sculpture, glass work, two-dimensional art, and large-scale installations.

His apparel hit the international scene two years ago when he designed the uniforms for the Netherlands team for the 2010 Winter Olympics held in BC.

But you don't need to be an Olympian or even an athlete to wear his gear (this is good news for people like me). You can find his Northwest Coast-inspired designs on everything from tunic dresses to t-shirts and hoodies, and even some badass outerwear (see below). Another cool little fact?: his clothes are available in sizes that range from XS to 3XL.

Edzerza says he uses a Northern variation of Northwest Coast art, with a contemporary graphic art twist; and that is exactly what he does - taking cues from popular fashion (by decentering the designs), he also employs age-old Northwest Coast artistic practices of wrapping and expanding 2-D designs around an object (the human body, in this case). His designs are clean and striking, granting the wearers of his apparel the status of being 'effortlessly cool.'

(Black Formline on Blue, NAA004 by Alano Edzerza, XS-XL, $45, 

Model: Amberae Wood, Photo: Thosh)

(Ladies TriBlend Raglan Sleeve Pullover, NAA037-Eagles Landing, $45)

(Edzerza Eagle Shell Jacket By Alano Edzerza, XS-XL, $399.95, 

Model: Amberae Wood)

(Grey Smoke Hole cropped design on Black T-Shirt, 

NAA030 By Alano Edzerza, XS-2XL, $28)

(Formline Camo Hoodie, NAA017 By Alano Edzerza, XS-2XL, $80)

Profile image above from CBR Photography, all other images from www.edzerzagallery.com. Email inquiries to director@edzerzagallery.com, or fan his apparel page on Facebook by clicking here. You can also follow his blog by clicking here.

Native Threads Online

Native Threads is unveiling a new online store with free shipping on every product.

As one of Indian Country’s only Native-owned and operated clothing companies, Native Threads has been building a loyal family of customers throughout North America since 1990. They state, "Our designs are contemporary, yet the messages are very traditional. By combining these elements, our clothing helps give Native people clarity about who they are in this place and time. By providing constant reminders about our past, our products help bring to the surface the pride we carry inside of us."



This holiday season, considering giving gifts that are made by Native artists and designers and that support Native companies.

Comedian JR Redwater on the cover of the holiday catalog, wearing a Native Threads Black Button-up Sammy II Camp Shirt. Price: $49.99

Native Model Sahar Khadjenoury in Native Threads "N" Style Hoodie in Black. Price: $49.99

Crystle Lightning in Native Threads Junior's Wings V-Neck Tee in Black with Turquoise accents. Price: $36.99

Native Threads Painted Hand Cap in Black. Price: $29.99

Native Threads 4 Feathers Tee in Royal Blue. Sale Price: $10.99

Native Threads Albuquerque Shoe. Native Threads and Vox Footwear teamed up for this limited edition shoe featuring a multi colored blanket pattern and black suede. Available in men's size 5-14 (Women's Size 6.5-15). Price: $59.99

See more on the Native Threads website at http://www.nativethreads.com/

Louie Gong's Killer Whale vs. Seals Custom Shoes

(Custom Coast Salish / Northwest Coast style shoes by Louie Gong)

About this pair, Gong says, "I started these Killer Whale vs. Seals customs about a year ago. I didn't like what I had done so I set them aside...until tonight, when I did some work to salvage them. I really like em! (all my shoes are hand drawn so there is only one of each design available."

For more information, click here, here or here.

Fuck Columbus

It's that time of yea again, when something needs to be said.

This man has a National American holiday named for him even though he never set foot on American soil.

He is responsible for leading the massive genocide of Indigenous populations in Caribbean. Committing atrocities such as slicing open pregnant women, slavery, rape and outright murder.

We want to know why this man deserves a holiday.

That's why we say FUCK COLUMBUS AND THE SHIP HE CAME IN ON.

Click here to order.

Nike N7 & Bunky Echo-Hawk

Nike recently teamed up with Native artist Bunky Echo-Hawk (Pawnee/Yakama) to produce the latest N7 line. The new collection was launched during the Native American Basketball Invitational held in July in Phoenix. Echo-Hawk worked with the Nike team as a design consultant, and the colors and images are based on his brightly-hued paintings and live art that he's become known for.

(Images courtesy of Larry Price and Bunky Echo-Hawk on Facebook)

Breeze: Reclaiming Sacred Knowledge with Streetwear

Thomas Marcus, aka Breeze, is one of my favorite street artists. He is Tohono O’odham from the Gila River and Salt River communities located near Phoenix. Breeze is a quiet storm, producing colorful graphic art that radiates out like a beautiful explosion.

Inspired by traditional O’odham basketry, Breeze’s two-dimensional art references the intricate patterns made by his ancestors.

But Breeze also translates his distinctive style to the world of streetwear, and his latest t-shirt design is based on the idea of taking back and taking over sacred symbols, geometry, and knowledge. Yes, he is badass like that.

He wrote:
“For centuries, corrupt organizations have been stealing sacred symbols. One example being the ‘All seeing eye’ or Pyramid with the eye, which is often associated with Conspiracy, Free Masons, NWO, etc. Ancient human ancestors, such as the Egyptians, used the symbol to represent the Eye of Horus, which represented protection, power, and health. The Symbol is also found in Buddhism as Buddha's ‘Eye of the world.’”

This latest shirt design is called V.III.I.VII. (5317), and it features the pyramid symbol with a complex sun design glowing out from behind it. A simplified music record represents the eye.

He explains:
“The wings right below represent the divinity of us as spiritual beings, and the importance of complex thought and creativity. It is also a symbol to represent ‘inspiration to take flight,’ meaning we are infinite and boundless, so let us live to our fullest potential.”

At the bottom of the design is a ‘coded language,’ representing all ancient scriptures of knowledge and wisdom throughout human history.

The shirt comes in both black and white options for men and women. For more shirt info, or to order, email Breeze at breezephx@gmail.com

Read more by clicking here.

Cheef Trading

The website for Cheef Trading, operated by Jolene Chee, is up and running, and you can now purchase t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories all online.

Click here to purchase your I heart Rez Boys or Frybread Does a Body Good t-shirts.

Cheef Trading is a Native owned company, bringing fashion forward styles with a native flair to stylish people.

Event | Phoenix Native Fashion Shows

Attention Phoenix area! Check out these fashion shows, featuring the streetwear designs by Tyson Powless of Un3ek Sy5tem, Jared Yazzie of OxDx, and Sho Sho Esquiro!

Follow OxDx and Sho Sho Esquiro Clothing and Un3ek on Facebook to keep updated with various streetwear-related events.

Indianizing The Urban Catwalk

I will be presenting on Native American streetwear at Yale in exactly two weeks! Several Native streetwear artists have offered up their thoughts and insights about this topic and I'm super excited to share it with a broader streetwear audience (aka the folks I'm gonna meet at Yale). In addition, I hope to post snippets about the Native streetwear scene on this blog (you know, as I'm pulling together my Yale presentation), so expect more 'low' fashion posts!

Graffiti Inspired Artwork for Your Ears

I recently found out that I will be presenting in April at the Yale conference on Streetwear (which I am very excited about, the organizers sound super amazing), so you'll probably see more posts on here having to do with streetwear and 'low' fashion. Here's a quick one, featuring earrings by the Salt River-based jewelry designer G Jewelry, who has incorporated the artwork of Akimel O'odham street artist Thomas Breeze Marcus:

black and white graffiti style tree earrings
artwork by brez
crafted by g jewelry - graffiti inspired artwork for your ears


extra long g jewelry earrings, artwork by brez

(click here and here to purchase these earrings at the affordable price of only $10)

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.

“Our Existence is our Resistance": Conference on Streetwear

I just sent out a paper proposal to Yale for their upcoming conference on streetwear.

The conference, titled "The Urban Catwalk: Fashion and Street Culture," aims to investigate and discuss the relationships between street style and identity.

So I submitted an abstract on Native streetwear.

Over the course of a single day in April, The Urban Catwalk will partner 20 minute academic presentations from a range of disciplines. Selected papers may be considered for an edited volume - and I hope I get picked because I think the work being done by Native street style designers would add greatly to understanding the connection between fashion and identity. Fingers will be crossed.

Here's my proposal:

Native American traditional art forms have been reincarnated by young Native artists and activists and placed on human bodies in the form of streetwear. This presentation explores the world of Native street fashion, and investigates how the makers and wearers use these garments to not only proudly communicate their tribal identities, but also to promote cultural survivance (survival/resistance), and reclaim Indianness in popular culture. Several grassroots Native fashion companies have emerged in the past decade, fueling a movement of Native youth who proudly wear their identity ‘on their sleeves’ – not only in their reservation communities, but also in urban environments like Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Winnipeg.

Through creative acts of subversion, these designers inscribe the all-American t-shirt with images of historical Native American heroes, contemporary political critiques, old tribal design motifs, and positive and insightful messages written in Native languages. In vibrant hues and bold graphics, their streetwear designs are undoubtedly contemporary, yet the messages they convey draw on age-old traditions and cultural practices and are infused with a keen awareness of the social, political and economic trends that affect Native peoples today. These artists are pro-Indian and tribally-centric in their production and reproduction of knowledge. They share with us the vitality and diversity of Native cultures, and ensure that tribal concepts of identity and attire persist, albeit in new forms. Some makers and wearers see these garments as clothing of resistance – they deconstruct and discredit stereotypes, offer alternative forms of performing gender and expressing beauty, and promote resistance in the form of active presence. This type of presence is important because most Americans attribute Native ‘authenticity’ to stereotypes they themselves have created, leaving no space for the existence of contemporary Native identities. These designers seek to regain this space through everyday clothing in which we all can engage, and as one streetwear artist explained, “Our existence is our resistance.”

To read a previous post on Native streetwear, click here, T-Shirts are our Battlefield

Designer Profile | Dustin Martin

Dustin Martin (Navajo) has been making headlines recently as the Columbia senior majoring in Anthropology who creates Native streetwear.

Martin reworks clothing from thrifts stores – adding silkscreened designs infused with messages that correlate with the name of his clothing line S.O.L.O. (Sovereign Original Land Owners).

He sees fashion, an unconventional medium for Native art, as a means to overturn preconceived notions about Indigenous culture.

The college senior envisions his clothing as a potential forum to connect Native heritage, mass media, and the Ivory Tower. He said, “So much of the brand is intellectual. I want it to be a dialogue about articulating culture and design in a way that people have to look at a second time. I’m not trying to preach, but I want there to be some learning involved.”

Martin believes that art and fashion are more useful than academics when it comes to his goal of discrediting misconceptions about Native Americans. He explained, “I could write anthropological articles my whole life, but I would still be heard and read by a small community of academics,” he says. “The same ideas can be articulated in a way that is not necessarily scholarly. I see Native art and clothes as a perfect medium for the message I want to convey.”


Read more about Dustin Martin by clicking the links below:
Columbia College Student Spotlight, September/October 2010

Hoot Magazine, Spring/Summer 2010 (pages 17-19)

Indigo Design Network