That Is One Mega-Cute Baby Bonnet

‎Pictured above is American fashion designer Tom Ford with the 2011 Santa Fe Indian Market Native American Clothing Contest Best of Show Winner and the First Place Contemporary Adult Female Winner (in Santa Fe at the annual August Indian Market event).

Ford said that he particularly was pleased with the recipient of the first-place award for Contemporary Female Adult, Naomi Bebo Maybee (Menominee/Hochunk), who wore a Japanese-Native American fusion kimono with ledger art applique, designed by her mother-in-law, Toni Williams. He was also pleased with 1-year-old Persephone Maybee, daughter of Naomi and artist Dallin Maybee (Arapaho/Seneca), who took Female Best in Show with a head-to-toe outfit created by her father. The little pink ensemble included a split horn baby bonnet and elk tooth dress with matching beadwork.

Tom Ford Weighs in on Indian Market Clothing Contest

(Malachi CD Tsoodle-Nelson received Honorable Mention in the Traditional category of the Native American Clothing Contest at Indian Market. - Natalie Guillén/The New Mexican)

Ford weighs in on Indian Market clothing contest
Kay Lockridge | For The New Mexican
August 21, 2011

Tom Ford, fashion designer extraordinaire and award-winning film director and producer, had to be convinced to join the panel of judges for the annual Native American Clothing Contest at Indian Market.

"Yes, it's true, Richard [Richard Buckley, fashion journalist and Ford's partner of 25 years] did persuade me to be a judge this year, but he won't ever have to persuade me again. I'll be happy to come back whenever they [Southwestern Association for Indian Arts] want me.

"It was so much fun to be part of the contest. I had been to the competition in the past but only as an observer. It's really important to support and encourage Native American arts, and that includes clothing," Ford said.

Buckley, who has sponsored the contest for the past four years and is a member of SWAIA, echoed Ford's words.

"The important thing is to encourage Native American culture and all the arts," Buckley said. "The clothing competition is my baby, and I wanted to share it with Tom. We've always made a good team."

When asked whether he found what he was looking for in terms of design elements, Ford responded enthusiastically, "Oh, yes! Good things are always good things and stand out. Good, creative design strikes a chord with people.

"This is true whether we're talking about traditional or contemporary design. What I found exceptional in the contemporary competition was that designers were faithful to traditional Native American elements and yet presented them with a new, fresh perspective."

Ford said that he particularly was pleased with the recipient of the first-place award in Contemporary Adult Women, Naomi Bebo Maybee (Menominee/Hochunk), who wore a Japanese-inspired kimono designed by her mother-in-law, Toni Williams, and 1-year-old Persephone Maybee, daughter of Naomi and artist Dallin Maybee (Arapaho/Seneca), who took Female Best in Show with a head-to-toe outfit created by her father.

"This was a family affair," Ford noted. "You could see the shared vision. I was quite taken with both outfits. This is what keeps me coming back," Ford said.

Jessica Growing-Thunder placed first in the Traditional category. - Natalie Guillén/The New Mexican

Persephone Maybee, 1, won Female Best of Show on Sunday at the Native American Clothing Contest. - Natalie Guillén/The New Mexican

Patricia Michaels Guerrilla Fashion Parade

Hey folks!
I'm just now somewhat bouncing back from my trip last weekend to Santa Fe where I checked out the SWAIA Indian Market. Showcasing over 1100 artists from 100 tribes, the Santa Fe Indian Market is the largest cultural event in New Mexico, attracting 100,000 visitors per year. The Indian Market features visual arts competitions, film screenings, musical performances, lectures, galas and much more. The fashion events are already getting press coverage - and here's one article on Patricia Michaels' guerilla-style fashion walk on the plaza last Saturday morning.

(Patricia Michaels and one of her models from her "Fashion Parade." Credits: Elizabeth R. Rose Photography.)

Santa Fe Indian Market - Market goes high fashion with model parade
Elizabeth Rose, Native American Jewelry and Art Examiner
August 20, 2011

If you were at Santa Fe Indian Market this morning you may have been treated to a high fashion parade of models sporting Patricia Michaels designs.

Patricia's leggy, white haired models paraded through the market this morning carrying huge floral pieces and parasols... all Patricia Michaels designs. It just goes to show you that Indian Market is going contemporary.... little by little.

(..Click here to read the rest of the article: Santa Fe Indian Market - Market goes high fashion with model parade)

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!

Santa Fe Indian Market 2010: Part 3 Native American Clothing Contest

It dawned on me that I never posted the pictures from the SWAIA Santa Fe Indian Market Native American Clothing Contest that was held last August in Santa Fe.

Among the many cherished traditions at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Native American Clothing Contest (NACC) is one of the most beloved and anticipated events. For over twenty years, the NACC has been the most photographed event at the Santa Fe Indian Market. The contest includes categories for traditional and contemporary Native American fashions, features children and adult participants, and awards prizes in over 20 categories.

I volunteered for the event along with my friend Consuelo Pascual. We had a great time checking out all of the behind-the-scenes action - at one point she grabbed me from my post to check out the collection made Racquel Begay (see below). It was fun to do an event with people who have a true passion for traditional and contemporary Native fashion.

My main job was to keep the photographers at bay. Professional, semi-pro, and amateurs all love this event, and the select few of us had to make sure all photographers had a Press Pass before they took any pictures (and that they weren't rude and pushy whilst snapping). All proceeds from the sales of the Press Passes go towards the planning and organizing of future shows. Meanwhile, I was snappin' away like crazy.

(Racquel Begay)

(Collaboration by designers Dallin Maybee and Laura Sheppherd)

(Dress by Patricia Michaels)

(Penny Singer)

(Clothes by Penny Singer and Dorothy Grant)

(Outfit by Dorothy Grant)

(Winning design by Orlando Dugi)

If you ever get the chance, definitely check out the show, it is held every Sunday during Indian Market, starting at 9am.

For other posts about Indian Market, click here to read Santa Fe Indian Market 2010: Part I, and here to read Santa Fe Indian Market 2010: Part 2 Wheelwright Art-for-Wear Showcase.

(all images my own, unless otherwise noted as those by swaia.org)

Patricia Michaels at SWAIA/Legends Show

Changing the Face: Celebrated Female Fashion Designers and Textiles Artists

The fifth and final show of the collaboration between Legends Santa Fe and Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) featured celebrated female fashion designers and textile artists including Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo).

Michaels was the unanimous 2010 winner of the Santa Fe Indian Market's Textiles Classification. Competing against traditional Native textiles, her winning piece signals the ever-expanding possibilities of the ancient art of adornment.

Michaels explained, “Every garment that I make, the fabric and the cut of the garment tells a story. And that’s how I feel Native people can give back to the rest of the world… to share their stories with people in the outside world. Some people do it through pottery, or painting, or jewelry. For me, I just thought, well, somebody can wear it. They can feel [these stories] on their skin.”

(All images below are of Patricia Michaels' fashion designs shot during the Legends/SWAIA event, and are courtesy of Jessica R. Metcalfe and Keith Grosbeck, with special thanks to Michaels and her models):






To read more about Patricia Michaels, check out my designer profile on her, and visit her website.

Also, if you're in the neighborhood, be sure to check out the upcoming Legends show featuring the jewelry of Colin Coonsis (Zuni/Navajo), which opens on November 26, 2010: