Paul Frank Presents....!

Paul Frank, in partnership with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA), is pleased to announce the debut of its first ever collaboration with four Native American designers during Santa Fe Indian Market this week. The fashion collection will be showcased during a panel and event held at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Friday, August 16 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The “Paul Frank Presents” collection will also be available for purchase at the IAIA MoCNA store.

Paul Frank x Native Designers

The Paul Frank x Native Designers collaboration has been finally officially announced.

While I am undeniably thrilled about the announcement and all that it represents, the press release failed to mention the various factors that led to this collaboration, which is an incredibly important aspect of this story.

Last September, the lifestyle brand Paul Frank hosted a "powwow"-inspired fashion event that featured some questionable party favors and activities. You can read about it here and here.

Video | Custom Heels by Louie Gong

Uh oh! The king of customized sneaks just stepped over into the world of specialized heels, pumps and super-chick kicks. I'm going to have to start up a shoe account.

Gong Mukluks

Activist artist Louie Gong teams up with Manitobah Mukluks to produce a special line of Northwest Coast-themed mukluks and moccasins.

Gong has been creating shoe art for the past couple years, making his mark on Vans sneakers in the form of Custom Coast Salish and Northwest Coast style shoes since 2009. You can check out his Eighth Generation website for more information on all his latest accomplishments and creative projects.

The two footwear options offered as part of the collab will feature a hand-etched Thunderbird design created by Gong and placed onto the Manitobah Mukluks' traditional Gatherer style shoe.

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.

Video | Louie Gong

Below is a fantastic video featuring Custom Shoe artist Louie Gong, who discusses the importance of putting Northwest Coast designs on shoes - his business goes beyond aesthetics and is an extension of his activism around racial identity. This 'artist profile' was filmed during the American Indian Film Festival by Northwest Indian News. It begins with wonderful comments by Tracy Rector of Longhouse Media.

Art and Identity Custom Shoe Workshop

Louie Gong, a nationally-recognized artist and mixed-heritage advocate, not only heads up the Eighth Generation custom shoe business, but also spends his time working with youth in tribal communities doing various speaking engagements and workshops.

Gong recently held a Custom Shoe Workshop called Art and Identity, which was hosted at the Salt Lake City Indian Walk-In Center held at the end of March.

Event | Aboriginal Fashion Showcase at the 2010 Olympics

More history-making!

First Nations fashion designers will be presenting their garments during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver - February 12th-16th.

The stellar lineup of top Aboriginal Fashion Designers representing from across Canada for the event includes: Dorothy Grant, Pamela Baker, Tammy Beauvais, Louie Gong, Cowichan Knitters, Nadine Spence, Tracey Toulouse, Kim Picard, and Angela DeMontigny (who also helped produce the event).

Aboriginal Fashion Showcase includes the following shows:

PREMIER DESIGNERS SHOWCASE
Angela DeMontigny, Dorothy Grant, Pam Baker
Sat, Feb.13 at 7:15pm

MEDIA RECEPTION
Sat, Feb.13 at 8:30pm - 10:30pm

4 MINI SHOWCASES
Kim Picard, Nadine Spence, Louie Gong, Pam Baker
Sun, Feb.14 at 3pm

4 MINI SHOWCASES
Tammy Beauvais, Tracy Toulouse, Angela DeMontigny, Dorothy Grant
Mon, Feb.15 at 3pm

ANGELA DEMONTIGNY AFTER PARTY
Mon, Feb.15 at 6pm

EMERGING DESIGNERS SHOWCASE
Kim Picard, Tammy Beauvais, Tracy Toulouse, Nadine Spence, Louie Gong, Cowichan Knitters
Tue, Feb.16 at 3pm

All shows will be held at Vancouver Community College (at 250 West Pender Street - at the intersection of Hamilton and Dunsmuir in downtown Vancouver, one block from the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion). Aboriginal Fashion Showcase (AFS) will set stage at the Aboriginal Artisan Village and Business Showcase.

"The AFS will be a visually stunning production of emerging and established Aboriginal Fashion Designers and will exude glamour and excitement. Experience an electrifying event that audiences will be talking about long after the last model has walked the runway. Be prepared to expect the unexpected; unreserved contemporary fashion designs will amaze all who assume the usual. The AFS will feature three of Canada's top Aboriginal Designers: Pam Baker, Dorothy Grant and Angela DeMontigny, And five of Canada's emerging and most promising Aboriginal fashion designer talent: Kim Picard, Tammy Beauvais, Tracy Toulouse, Nadine Spence, Louie Gong, and Cowichan Knitters."

More information is available at http://www.ikanada.com/register