We are so pumped to add another amazing artist to the Beyond Buckskin Boutique! Maria Running Fisher Jones is a member of the Blackfeet tribe from Montana.
In 2011, in addition to the beginning of the Urban Outfitters case with the Navajo Nation, Etsy was gaining momentum as an important marketplace for handmade goods. And, as an arts advocate, I saw big potential in Etsy for Native American artists to reach patrons and consumers throughout the world. But, the label “Native American” holds great monetary value, and even the average person or shop owner on Etsy realizes this and they misuse these words or tags to name and describe their products to garner more hits when consumers search for handmade Native jewelry or art.
We are so excited to announce that as a part of our overall mission and goals, Beyond Buckskin will be launching our first storefront and studio space! It will be located in Belcourt, North Dakota, on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation. This space is set to open with a celebration on May 7th, which will coincide with Beyond Buckskin’s annual online Anniversary Sale - a blazing 24-hour storewide sales event with amazing deals to thank customers for their year-long support. Please mark your calendars to join us in this in-person and online event!
What would fashion history look like if Native American designers were consistently represented in mainstream style magazines, department stores and fashion shows?
We are excited to add yet another amazing new artist to the Beyond Buckskin Boutique: Bentonia Brown creates tiny little cloth-covered gems emblazoned with geometric designs and Native American art.
I regularly receive emails and inquiries from people asking about the topic of Native appropriations in fashion. The questions are straightforward, yet complex: "What is it? Am I doing it right now? When is it ok? I love Navajo prints, can I wear Native American fashion? How can I educate myself and my friends about this topic?"
