Native designers at Couture Fashion Week

Three Indigenous Women Represent at New York Couture Fashion Week

By Jamilah KingWhile Native American themes have become popular in the fashion world, Native American designers have often been left out of the spotlight. In an effort to change this sad state of fashion affairs, three Native designers will be spotlighted this Friday: internationally acclaimed Sho Sho Esquiro, Lyn Kay Peters of Ringing Bell Robes, and Linda Lavallee of Cree Nisga’a Clothing.

The show will take place this Friday at the New Yorker hotel in Manhattan. According to its Facebook page, the event will celebrate “self-taught First Nation fashion designers who are sure to bring global awareness of this highly neglected and untapped resource of rich traditional talent.”It's Native, to Boot! Cree Nisga'a Clothing at NYC's Couture Fashion WeekExcitement is clearly running high for the Chilliwack, British Columbia designers. Earlier today, Lavallee wrote on the official Facebook page, "So far New York is AMAZING!! Fittings went well yesterday. Looking forward to showing you my new stuff!!! Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow!!!"

Cree Nisga'a creations are used to the spotlight: Michelle Thrush wore a pair while in Cannes for the premiere of Jimmy P., and Saginaw Grant wore a custom-designed jacket at the Anaheim premiere of The Lone Ranger. According to CoutureFashionWeek.com, the work being shown in New York will be made from "a mixture of fabrics, from leather, cedar and birch bark to cotton, wool and ultra-suede in traditional Nisga’a and Cree colors featuring red, white and black."Comment:  For more on Native designers, see 10 Native Designers at Idyllwild and Paul Frank Announces Native Collaboration.

Below:  Clothing by Sho Sho Esquiro.



Boots by Cree Nisga'a.