Video | BBBxGON Fashion Flash Glow Party!

In March, Beyond Buckskin was approached by Emergence Productions to help put on a "Fashion Flash" segment during their Stage 49 DJ Glow Dance Party during the Gathering of Nations powwow in Albuquerque, April 2013. The show included BBB-affiliated designers and models, and featured designs by The Soft Museum, Kevin Duncan (Apache/Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara), Sun Rose Iron Shell (Sicangu/Oglala Lakota), and JT Willie (Navajo).

BB Facebook | Best of April

I post a lot of fashion news on the Beyond Buckskin Facebook Fan Page. It's a great way to share info quickly without having to write an entire post on it.

Every month I take the time to compile these tidbits into a 'Best of' post where I highlight some of the coolest images, the most interesting articles, the biggest misappropriators, and the neatest videos that were posted to BB's Facebook page.

So here you go, fashionistas, the Best of April:

GON12 | Sharmayne Edgewater Finale

Clothing designed by Navajo fashion designer Sharmayne Edgewater at the Central Visionaries fashion show held during the annual Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, NM, April 2012.

GON12 | Disa Tootoosis Finale

Clothing designed by Cree fashion designer Disa Tootoosis at the Central Visionaries fashion show held during the annual Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, NM, April 2012.

GON12 | Disa Tootoosis Dress

Dress designed by Cree fashion designer Disa Tootoosis, worn by a model during the Central Visionaries fashion show held during the Gathering of Nations powwow in Albuquerque. Stay tuned... more videos will be uploaded, just as soon as I figure out how to do it! (yay video!)

GON12 Events

It's time to start getting jazzed for the annual Gathering of Nations powwow held every year in good ol' Albuquerque, New Mexico!

As part of the powwow, many GON sanctioned events are scheduled and include the Miss Indian World competition, to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The powwow itself, along with the Market and Stage 49, kicks off on Friday. Catch the crowning of Miss Indian World on Saturday.

Per usual, many events are scheduled to entice powwow-goers to venture out at night, but there's one event in particular that will feature a bunch of Native fashion designers, and that is the Central Visionaries Show.

Designer Profile | Adam Parker

Here is a quick profile on Navajo silkscreen artist Adam Parker. I met him randomly last year at a fashion event held during one of the many 2011 Gathering of Nations post-powwow/after-hour parties. He wasn't in the fashion show, but he was wearing one of his own silkscreened suit jackets and it caught my eye (left). Scroll down to read the mini-interview and see a few of his designs:

BB: What is your name and what do you do?

AP: My name is Adam Parker but I usually just go by A.P., I am primarily a screen printer and graphic designer. My company name is Endemik Graphics and Endemik Apparel.

Video | Rhymes and Runways

Here's the vid from the Rhymes & Runways Fashion Show held during Gathering of Nations 2011. The fashion show featured designers Sho Sho Esquiro, Tracy Toulouse, Alano Edzerza, Penny Singer, Wavanoonkwe Cameron-Hernandez, and Jolene Chee.

Review | RED Runway Fashion Show

RED Runway Fashion Show
by guest post writer Brenton Bluehouse

A backdrop of loudly tattered beat music played inside as it covered what was already playing hip-hop old school connection of 90’s tunes outside in the bar that would be the setting for the RED Runway fashion design premier. Club 405 was probably not the best venue to hold such an event, but when it comes to the Gathering of Nations weekend, it’s almost necessary to be where you know the brown masses are going to congregate and be there ready to show your stuff.

Being that this would be my first formal experiment with a fashion show in Native America, I went in with no expectations but a good time and a glimpse into the world of Native fashion.

GON 2011 Review | Gathering of Nations Powwow

This past semester I taught a course at the University of New Mexico titled Native American Adornment. It was an upper division course in Native American Studies and Anthropology, and it focused on Native American practices of adornment from prehistory to the present. Throughout the term, we investigated the creative, social, political and cultural aspects of decorating the body.

It was a terrific class, and I had a group of bright students who enthusiastically took on the course requirements and did an amazing job. One of the requirements was to attend Native fashion or cultural events, and write a succinct review. The purposes of the assignment were to get students to view the garments on the body and in motion, to see and experience the community aspects of clothing and adornment, and to get students to think critically about these events.

I want to share a few of their reviews over the duration of the next week, and here is the first review by Brenton Bluehouse:

Gathering of Nations Pow Wow

It is probably one of the greatest showcases of indigenous peoples gathering in the world, and depending on what your view is of this pow wow, it still is a spectacle to see and be a part of. Every year thousands of individuals make there way to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow to be included in what has become a showing of quasi-indianism in the United States. If you are not a dancer, you’re a family member of a dancer and if your not participating in the pow wow, you have come to the pow wow to listen and watch the high sound and colorful costume. For thousands of people come to share their personal expressions of themselves and their culture.

GON 2011 Turquoise Soul

Ah, it's always good to run into amazing Anish peeps, and Wabanoonkwe Cameron-Hernandez is one aaamaaaazing woman. She is the creative mind behind Turquoise Soul - the blingin' beaded jewelry biz that came close to selling out during GON.

I first met Wabanoonkwe through photographer Thosh Collins who sent me photos that he snapped of model Amberae Wood rockin some Turquoise Soul beaded earrings (click here to see the pics and my designer profile on her). Wabanoonkwe invited me to tag along on their latest photoshoot where I finally met her and fashion designer Sho Sho Esquiro (click here to see the 'behind-the-scenes' post).

(Wabanoonkwe at her booth in the tents at GON)

(India Lowry Jones, Wabanoonkwe, me, and Wabanoonkwe's sister and model Miigwaans Cameron at the Rhymes and Runways event)

(India and I earlier in the night - getting many compliments on our Turquoise Soul earrings)

GON 2011 Vans x Pendleton

Check out this special collaboration that Vans did with Nibwaakaawin for the Gathering of Nations Powwow and All Nations Skate Jam.

These shoes premiered last year at ANSJ 2010 and sold out within hours.

For the 2011 event, Vans created several limited edition SK8-HIs, Classic Slip-Ons and Chukka Lows using Pendleton fabrics. Proceeds from the sale of the sneakers will go towards Nibwaakaawin’s fundraising efforts – a Native non-profit organization whose goal is to empower Native youth through skateboarding.

GON 2011 Beadwork on Crack

As we walked around the GON vendors in the tents, we noticed table after table of crazy cool beadwork, and one of my friends (can't remember who!) stated, "Woah... it's like beadwork on crack..."

See what we mean:

Sadly, I didn't get the names of the sellers - I guess you'll just have to go to GON 2012 to check it out for yourself!

GON 2011 Tracy Toulouse

Stylin' Indians! They were everywhere at GON. I definitely didn't get snaps of them all, but here's some! And here is a quick post on one of my favorite fashionistas - Tracy Toulouse!

Hailing from the North shores area in Northern Ontario, Toulouse is a member of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation.

Toulouse shows her work throughout Canada and is known for her modern fashion lines as well as for her creation of elaborate and intricate custom regalia for clients.

She shared a booth with Wabanoonkwe Cameron-Hernandez (the brains and style behind Turquoise Soul - more to come on this), and she brought some fabulous Ojibwe fashion designs to the powwow scene.

I snatched up one of her red jackets and wore it out to the NMS Red Runway event held at the 405 Lounge on Central, where I met up with Tina and Andrea (who both make super fresh earrings (aka, you can expect a future post on these gals)).

Click here to read the Beyond Buckskin Designer Profile on Tracy Toulouse. You can also find her on Akwekon.

GON 2011 Stylin' Indians

Coming to you from Albuquerque, New Mexico - it's the Gathering of Nations 2011 recap! (or, the beginning of it...)

Every year at the end of the April, millions of Indians from throughout the world come together for the biggest powwow in the universe. Ok, maybe not millions of Indians, and maybe they're only from this continent, and maybe NABI is a lil bigger than this powwow, but you get the picture.

Over the duration of the next few days I'll be posting pics of some STYLIN' Indians spotted at the GON powwow and events. Super fresh. Stay tuned. Until then, here's a pic of the Grand Entry on Friday night:

Fashion Events at Gathering of Nations 2011

It's that time of year again, and everyone is gearing up for Gathering of Nations, with pre-GON events kicking off tonight!

If you're in the Albuquerque area, check out these Fashion Events.

Event | Fight and Fashion

Will you be attending Gathering of Nations this year?
If so - check out the Fight and Fashion Entertainment Mixer hosted by Indigenous Image:

Come join us for a night of fun, fashion, and fights!! The event will have a fashion show which will showcase the best native designers from the US and Canada including:

-Danitaz Designz by Danita Straberri
-CPascual Designs by Consuelo Pascual
-Mildj Fashion by Mildred Carpenter
-Martini Couture by D. Martin

The show will also feature an amateur mixed martial arts championship featuring fighters from different respective tribes.

Friday, April 23, 2010 at 9:30pm
The Wool Warehouse - downtown Albuquerque
518 1st street southwest