Oh No, Valentino | Appropriation and the Case of the Stolen Beadwork

In 2015, Italian fashion brand Valentino looked to Canadian Métis artist Christi Belcourt for their 2016 Resort collection, and it was touted as a beautiful example of a respectful collaboration. The designers at Valentino became aware of Belcourt’s paintings, which are pointillist renditions of traditional Métis beadwork and floral patterns, and asked if they could transfer her painting, Water Song, to a range of fabrics for their upcoming collection. Some fabrics were solid, others sheer, with her dazzling bead-like florals printed or embroidered across dresses, jackets, skirts and tops.

Native Fashion Now: Spotlighting and Celebrating a Movement

I think it's fair to say that, when we look at Native fashion, we are experiencing an 'Indigenous spring' moment: for lack of a better phrase, it's an exciting and rejuvenating creative cultural explosion moment. New artists are constantly emerging while more established designers are reaching greater heights. I get to witness it firsthand as I meet fresh faces and celebrate great accomplishments with others. But this moment is part of a longer Native fashion movement. I just returned from the East Coast where I reconnected with over 20 Native American designers who were featured in the new Peabody Essex Museum exhibit, Native Fashion Now, which spans 50 years and includes over 70 designers.