‘Native American Fashion from the 1940’s to the Present, and into the Future’

Event Description

The eclectic and exciting world of Native American fashion came to life in the 1940s when Lloyd Kiva New, (Cherokee), a successful Scottsdale fashion designer, tapped into a unique market and created opportunities for Native artists. New made headlines with his participation in the 1951 Atlantic City International Fashion Show. He showed again in 1952 and was featured in the Los Angeles Times. His garments and accessories were recognized on a scale never before seen in Native clothing design. In 1962 he co-founded the Institute of American Indian Arts (in Santa Fe, NM) and retired as president in 1978.

Dr. Metcalfe’s presentation highlights the work of Lloyd Kiva New and three fashion icons who are the beneficiaries of an industry he pioneered ― Wendy Ponca (Osage), Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo), and Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo). Like Dr. New, Ponca, Michaels, and Ortiz use clothing as a way to continue age-old practices and deconstruct stereotypes. These talented artists seek to reclaim the label ‘Native American’ in the fashion world and create new opportunities for future generations of Native artists.

She will also talk about her latest work on the Beyond Buckskin project http://beyondbuckskin.com