Native Love Fashion Show: Empowering Indigenous Youth Through Cultural Expression
The Southern Ute Cultural Center & Museum in Ignacio, Colorado, recently played host to a vibrant celebration of Indigenous culture and contemporary fashion. Native Love, a cultural preservation group dedicated to empowering youth, orchestrated its 2nd annual fashion show and fundraiser, seamlessly blending traditional heritage with modern style.
A Runway for Self-Expression
While traditional Indigenous fashion has long been a cornerstone of cultural identity, family ties, and storytelling, the Native Love fashion show takes this concept a step further. The event creates a unique platform for Indigenous youth to express themselves freely, showcasing a diverse array of styles from traditional regalia and intricate beadwork to cutting-edge modern fashion.
Kristean Velasquez, an organizer and emcee for Native Love, enthusiastically guided approximately 20 participants, both children and adults, down the runway. The audience was treated to a dazzling display of colorful dresses, trendy streetwear, and even sports uniforms, highlighting the multifaceted nature of contemporary Indigenous identity.
“Just giving the kids an outlet to express themselves in any type of way, and giving them that space to do it without any judgment. I love it,” Velasquez remarked, capturing the essence of the event.
Breaking New Ground in Indigenous Fashion
O’olcu Buckskin, the mastermind behind the fashion show’s organization, emphasized the event’s significance in providing alternative avenues for self-expression within the Indigenous community:
“Not everybody can do the powwow. Not everybody can do the beadwork. Some of us like fashion. Some of us maybe want to be a model. You don’t really have to say much. You just say it with your body language,” Buckskin explained.
This inclusive approach opens doors for Indigenous youth to explore and celebrate their heritage in ways that resonate with their individual interests and talents.
Showcasing Indigenous Design Talent
The fashion show also served as a platform for Indigenous designers to showcase their work. Liana Daniels, a talented fashion designer from Farmington, New Mexico, had the rare opportunity to see her creations come to life on the runway.
“I never usually get to see people who purchase my things wear them. I don’t get to see it. I don’t see pictures. I got to see that today with my own eyes, and it almost made me tear up a little bit,” Daniels shared, visibly moved by the experience.
This emotional connection between designer, model, and audience underscores the power of fashion as a medium for cultural pride and intergenerational bonding.
Celebrating Achievement and Looking to the Future
The event concluded with an awards ceremony, recognizing the courage and creativity of all participants. This gesture of acknowledgment further reinforces Native Love’s commitment to nurturing confidence and self-expression among Indigenous youth.
As Native Love plans to continue hosting this fashion show in the coming years, it stands as a testament to the evolving nature of Indigenous cultural expression. By providing a stage for youth to showcase their heritage through the lens of contemporary fashion, the organization is fostering a new generation of proud, creative, and culturally connected Indigenous individuals.
The success of the Native Love fashion show demonstrates the power of innovative approaches to cultural preservation. It proves that embracing modern forms of expression can strengthen, rather than dilute, connections to Indigenous heritage, paving the way for a vibrant and dynamic future for Indigenous culture.