Over the years Native American fashion has come a long way, transforming from feathered headdresses and buckskin outfits to contemporary designs that are fashionable yet reflect the Native American culture in creative new ways. The Native Fashion Now exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA curated by Karen Kramer showcased 75 indigenous designers who prove that Native American fashion is not what is used to be. Linda Welters brought the show to our class by presenting it through pictures she took at the show. The show was broken up into four themes including the pathbreakers, revisitors, activators, and provocateurs all of which showcase Native American designs based on new visions and expanded traditions.
The pathbreaker designers were part of the first exhibit that focused on new …show more content…
Jared Yazzie of Navajo decent was part of the activators who designed graphic tees where he uses words as weapons to send a message and inform people of his backgrounds history. His tees are simple with sayings like “Native Americans discovered Columbus” sending a message to Americans who have be taught otherwise. The provocateurs take elements that represent their heritage and make untraditional pieces. Lisa Telford of Haida decent made the PonchaHaida dress in 2009 completely out of red cedar bark and faux leather trim. Although this dress pushes the boundaries of traditional fashions and cannot be worn it represents her background by using natural elements but yet still shows her knowledge of contemporary fashion through the silhouette of the dress. Overall the exhibit was able to show people that Native Americans don’t only produce outrageous headdresses and buckskin outfits but what they do is take parts of their past heritage and incorporate it into contemporary fashionable
The pathbreaker designers were part of the first exhibit that focused on new …show more content…
Jared Yazzie of Navajo decent was part of the activators who designed graphic tees where he uses words as weapons to send a message and inform people of his backgrounds history. His tees are simple with sayings like “Native Americans discovered Columbus” sending a message to Americans who have be taught otherwise. The provocateurs take elements that represent their heritage and make untraditional pieces. Lisa Telford of Haida decent made the PonchaHaida dress in 2009 completely out of red cedar bark and faux leather trim. Although this dress pushes the boundaries of traditional fashions and cannot be worn it represents her background by using natural elements but yet still shows her knowledge of contemporary fashion through the silhouette of the dress. Overall the exhibit was able to show people that Native Americans don’t only produce outrageous headdresses and buckskin outfits but what they do is take parts of their past heritage and incorporate it into contemporary fashionable