Fake “Native American” Goods on Etsy (Part 2): Why the Problem Still Exists

In Part Two of Exposing Etsy, Jessica Metcalfe goes deeper into how fake “Native American” products continue to flood Etsy—despite federal law and years of public criticism. 

In my opinion, artists need real protection from the fakes and the fraudsters.

OxDx: Jared Yazzie, Native Threads, and Creative Problem-Solving!

We’re back with another powerful segment featuring OxDx Clothing founder Jared Yazzie (Diné). 

In this continuation of our conversation, we dive even deeper into Indigenous creativity, fashion, and community-building. 

And creative problem-solving!

OxDx: Jared Yazzie’s Creative Journey

Join us as I sit down with OxDx Clothing founder Jared Yazzie (Diné) for an inspiring conversation about Indigenous creativity, fashion, and community. 

We talk about the roots of OxDx, building meaningful spaces, and the power of art to spark change.

Carving Sound, Culture, and Soul: Derek Miller

In this episode, we welcome Derek Miller, award-winning Mohawk singer-songwriter, actor, producer, and all-around creative force from Six Nations of the Grand River. From touring in the late ‘90s to performing at the 2010 Winter Olympics, Derek continues to inspire with music that spans blues, rock, and soul. 

Storytelling Through Fashion, Part 2

In this Part 2 episode of Beyond Buckskin: Storytelling Through Fashion, we continue our conversation with mother and daughter Angela and Amari LaRocque of Bineshi Ikwewag — uniquely crafted Indigenous-inspired clothing, jewelry, accessories, and art made by a family of Anishinaabe artists. 

Storytelling Through Fashion with Bineshi Ikwewag

In this episode of Beyond Buckskin: Storytelling Through Fashion, we sit down with mother and daughter Angela and Amari LaRocque of Bineshi Ikwewag — uniquely crafted Indigenous inspired clothing, jewelry, accessories, & art made by a family of Anshinaabe artists. 

Rock Your Mocs | To Feel the Earth

In 2009, the School for Advanced Research hosted the first of three Moccasin Seminars. The moccasin documentation seminar brought together Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache moccasin makers to discuss the Indian Arts Research Center moccasin collection and learn from each other.

With the goal of sharing information and enhancing preservation, the moccasin makers came together to look at and discuss new and old techniques, changes and innovations in moccasin making, and the need to encourage a new generation of artists. 

Activism Through Fashion

Last month, my dear friends at the Institute of American Indian Arts asked me to record a guest lecture on the topic of Activism Through Fashion. I had a great time putting the video presentation together - falling down a BUNCH of rabbit holes and refreshing my thoughts on the power of fashion to communicate. 

It was for the course, "ARTH 306: Controversy in Native Arts," which explores the various issues facing contemporary Native American artists. The main focus is on identity, aesthetics, the marketplace, legal issues, and the role of the artist in light of social and tribal issues.

Hello Autumn, Goodbye Summer

"Well hello stranger!"

That's the sound of me re-entering the Beyond Buckskin website after being absent for, oh, six weeks or so.

But I haven't been 'really' absent. The last time that I published on this site was when I was sitting in my hotel room at Buffalo Thunder Resort. I was in Santa Fe for Indian Market. We had just launched the Paul Frank x Native Designers collection, and, little did I know, time would fly, and here I am.

Beyond Buckskin x Homeskillet Fest

Greetings from Alaska! I am sitting here at a table next to a window overlooking the ocean. A cruise ship is docked, and tourists are exploring the small town of Sitka on this cool summer day. Smithsonian Magazine recently named Sitka as one of the best small towns in American to visit in 2013.

“There are photo ops galore at the Sitka National Historical Park, site of the last major battle between Europeans and Native Americans on the Pacific Coast,” writes Smithsonian author Susan Spano.

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).

Video | To Feel the Earth

This trailer for the upcoming documentary "To Feel the Earth: Moccasins in the Southwest" is a co-production of the Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research and Red Ant Films. The documentary is a part of a traveling exhibit that highlights moccasins in Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache cultures and also addresses the importance of wearing moccasins. Herb Stevens, Will Tsosie, and Pat Tenorio are featured in the film, along with moccasins made by Gary Roybal, John Garcia, and Edwin Herrera. Former Harvey J. Branigar Jr. intern Jessica Metcalfe is also featured, due to her expertise in Native fashion. Click here to read more.

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:

Video | Project Runway Exit Interview with Patricia Michaels

Project Runway Season 11 Runner-Up, Patricia Michaels speaks about her experience on the show! Great words!

Add Vine to the List...

...of the many social media/networking sites where you can find Beyond Buckskin.

If you don't know what Vine is, that's ok. I didn't either up until recently. Essentially, Vine is a new app that allows you to shoot and share short looping videos. It's meant to be simple and fun, and the videos are a max of 7 seconds in length.

I've posted a whopping 2 videos thus far, I'm still trying to figure it out, but I'm kind of excited about it.

Video | Project Runway's Patricia Michaels Retrospective

We are gearing up for Project Runway's finale episode, to air tomorrow night. In preparation, click here to watch a retrospective video montage of Patricia Michaels' designs:

Video | Patricia Michaels on KASA TV

Project Runway's Patricia Michaels

Nikki talks to "Project Runway" Season 11 Finalist Patricia Michaels, who also happens to be a native of Taos. Patricia shares stories of her life changing experience on the show and shows off some of her winning designs with a fashion show exclusive to New Mexico Style.

Video | Virgil Ortiz and the Venutian Soldiers

Virgil Ortiz talks about his Venutian Soldiers exhibit that features Native (role) models dressed up as various characters from his interpretation of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680:



Click here to read more about Virgil Ortiz.

Patricia Michaels - Project Runway Top Contender

Last Thursday, Season 11 of Project Runway officially kicked off with a diverse cast of new designers, and one is our very own Miss Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo).

Michaels is the show's first Native American designer, and people are very excited about this simple fact. Her ethnicity is touted in show reviews and announcements - and rightfully so, because we as Native people are vastly underrepresented in both the fashion industry and in mainstream media.

Video | Powwow Trail

The Ways is a new website that features stories from Native communities of the Great Lakes region. This site is an incredible online educational resource that features videos, interactive maps, and digital media that helps viewers and readers explore contemporary Native culture and language.

'Powwow Trail' is one of the four stories they currently have available on the site. In this beautifully shot video, Dylan Jennings shares a weekend of singing with Midnite Express and dancing at the Oneida Powwow.