Santa Fe Indian Market 2015: Fashion, Style, and Fun Events

It's that time of year again! My favorite time - it's August, and that means it's time to head south for the annual Santa Fe Indian Market events! We have a fun schedule planned - cool live art, glow parties, fashion shows, style events, and more! We've compiled our favorite fashion, style, and fun events below - this is where you'll catch us this year at Santa Fe Indian Market! Scroll down to see more! >>

Santa Fe Indian Market 2014: Fashion, Style, and Fun Events

In less than a week, my feet will be standing in the beautiful high desert of New Mexico. And by 'standing,' I mean rockin' 4 inch heels with my favorite dress, on my phone, en route to an art or fashion event or meeting with a curator, designer, or friend.. It's time for Santa Fe Indian Market!

This year is particularly special because the Santa Fe Indian Market has the most fashion events it has ever had. This is very exciting. Typically, the fashion events are held on the outskirts of SWAIA's sanctioned booths, but this year we happily see them showcased at the center.

Santa Fe Indian Market 2013 Fashion, Style, and Art Events

It's August. It's one of my favorite months of the year. Summer is in full swing, the sun is high, the days are long, and I'm blasting that Don Henley track an awful lot.

Another reason why I adore August is the fact that the largest gathering of Native American artists occurs during this magical month.

The annual Santa Fe Indian Market, organized by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, brings thousands of artists together for one fabulous and inspiring weekend.

Top 12 in Native Fashion for 2012

2012 was an amazing year for Native American-made fashion.

We saw designers taking home big awards, collaborations developed, tons of fashion shows all over the continent showcased designers from throughout Indian Country, some important new projects were launched, and Native pride was felt and seen through the items we wore on various significant events and rallies.

Now let's begin the Beyond Buckskin list for the Top 12 in Native Fashion for 2012.

Fashion HEAT | Jamie Okuma

You've undoubtedly seen her work before - either in feature articles in magazines, or in a viral Facebook picture of some killer fully-beaded boots, or at the Heard and Santa Fe Indian Markets snatching up the Best of Show ribbon. Her name is Jamie Okuma, and she is one young, cool beadwork artist who is making waves in the art and fashion worlds. She's a true genius, and whether you're into 'traditional' Native quill and beadwork clothing, or rockin' contemporary Native chic, we all flip when we see her work.

Okuma showed her first fashion collection at the Fashion HEAT event held in August, and I caught up with her to ask her about the show.

Fashion HEAT | David Gaussoin

Several established and cutting-edge Native American fashion designers showed in Santa Fe at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts during the Santa Fe Indian Market. Organized by First Nations art curator Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, the event was a huge hit and a 2013 round 2 is in the works.

The show started with designs (see left) selected and organized by award-wining artist Connie Tsosie Gaussoin, which highlighted how modern Native fashion has been around for a while, but it also shows how the Gaussoin family has played such an important role as a mainstay in thinking about Native clothing in an avant-garde way. I caught up with Connie's son, David Gaussoin, who is also an award-winning artist, and asked him a couple of questions about his family's participation in the Fashion HEAT event.

Fashion HEAT | Consuelo Pascual

I got the great opportunity to interview Navajo/Mayan fashion designer Consuelo Pascual about her newest designs that debuted at the Fashion HEAT show held in Santa Fe during Indian Market.

Organized by Native American and First Nations art scholar and curator Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, this free event was one of the most-talked about Native-focused fashion shows of the past year and featured some of the most prominent Native American fashion designers producing today.

In the interview below, Pascual talks to BB about the ins and outs of fashion design: from the structural to the ephemeral, fashion is an exciting art form, and is one that is gaining a better footing in the American Indian art world.

Orlando Dugi Talks Fashion HEAT

I caught up with Navajo jewelry and fashion designer Orlando Dugi to chat about the recent Fashion HEAT show that was held at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts during the Santa Fe Indian Market. Organized by contemporary Native American and First Nations art scholar and curator Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, the fashion show was one of the most talked about events during the weekend. The show featured some of Native America's topnotch fashion designers, and there's already talk about planning for Fashion HEAT 2013 (that's what I like to hear!).

Dugi is one of my personal favorite designers because he is constantly pushing himself and creating new items to show off. I remember when I first met him during the Heard Indian Market, and it was then that he said he's starting to dabble in fashion design.

Scene | Santa Fe Indian Market Booths

Last weekend I attended the Santa Fe Indian Market. And if you don't know about it, here's some fun facts for you:

Santa Fe Indian Market takes over the downtown Plaza area and comprises 14 square city blocks where it features 1,025 artists representing 160 tribes, nations and pueblos. A reported 125,000 visitors attended this year's Market. 

Yes, it is huge.

It is a place where I get to meet up with old friends, meet new friends, and be surrounded by thousands of creative minds. So, I like it.

SWAIA: A Call for New Directions (Again)

Alright, let's get serious here for a second.

Last weekend I attended the 91st anniversary of the Santa Fe Indian Market, hosted by the infamous Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (I like calling them 'infamous' because this title has a dark ominous feel to it, which I think is appropriate.)

Santa Fe Indian Market 2012 Fashion Events

The Santa Fe Indian Market kicks off in less than two weeks! There are tons of events and openings going on - for example, while the official Market doesn't start until Saturday, Market-related events begin the week prior.

I fly in on Wednesday, just in time to hit up the Gallery openings on Thursday and Friday. Every year I post a list of fashion events, mostly to keep myself organized, but also to show how fashion is an important component. Here's the list of cool events that you can catch me at!:

On the Street

Native fashion is so cool! (but of course, I am biased).

But just check out this awesome photo by Kathleen that she took of Navajo designer Adam Parker, who is rockin' his Manuelito blazer. It's awesome to rep your peeps on the streets. This was shot during the Santa Fe Indian Market, 2011.

Click here to see more of Kathleen's photos.

Bead Artist Profile | Jamie Okuma

Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Shoshone-Bannock) began working with beads as a child creating her own dance regalia for powwows near her home, on the La Jolla Luiseño Reservation.

In high school, Okuma made her first miniature jingle dress, which she placed on a doll figure, and thus, the Jamie Okuma we know today emerged.

Historical accuracy, exemplary workmanship, and keen attention to detail are the hallmarks of her dolls, which are also frequently referred to as ‘soft sculptures’ since the term ‘doll’ seems to diminish the aesthetic range of these creations.

Terminology aside, the magnificent small wonders that she creates replicate life in miniature.

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.

Video | Patricia Michaels Guerrilla Fashion Parade

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.

Orlando Dugi 2011 Collections

I ran into Orlando Dugi when I was in Santa Fe last week, and I wanted to post some of his recent work, because it is absolutely stunning. Dugi is a Navajo beadworker who creates elegant, lavish and sexy dresses, purses, and other accessories. All of his garments and purses pictured below are modeled by the lovely and talented Miss Wakeah Jhane Myers (Comanche/Blackfeet/Kiowa), who is also a champion powwow dancer.

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).

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.