Native Fashion Week Santa Fe, founded and curated by Amber‑Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation), concluded its inaugural year as the largest fashion week ever produced by a single entity in the United States. Over four days, 30 Indigenous designers unveiled 600 original looks on 150 Indigenous models, attracting more than 7,000 attendees to the Santa Fe Railyard.
This event launched an enduring movement.
“These contracts and opportunities are evidence of the waves Native Fashion Week is making,” Bear Robe said. “We are proving that representation matters and that Indigenous designers and models deserve to be seen.”
Bear Robe’s statement is not just aspirational, it is backed by measurable outcomes. From major agency signings to national media coverage, Native Fashion Week Santa Fe is already driving real world impact across the fashion industry.
Runway Highlights: Representation in Motion
Designers transported audiences into realms where memory and innovation merge. Highlights include:
- Orlando Dugi’s (Diné) celestial bead‑studded gowns evoked night skies rooted in Diné voice
- Korina Emmerich (EMME Studio) (Puyallup) layered bold wool knits with protest motif applique, weaving activism into apparel
- Douglas Miles (Apache Skateboards) (San Carlos Apache) paired hand‑lettered skate decks and silk bombers into a streetwear tapestry of intergenerational pride
- Shoshoni Gensaw-Hostler (Nar Rew Ekar) (Yurok) infused ceremonial energy into her modern silhouettes adorned with regalia-inspired beadwork
Other designers include Lesley Hampton, Penny Singer, Dorothy Grant, Randi Nelson, Ayimach Horizons (Jason Baerg), Darcy Big Horse, Nonamey, The Son of Picasso and Pacha Indigenous Art Collection (Kinoo Arcentales Cajas)—delivered multidimensional storytelling through ribbon work, home‑tanned hides, quillwork, and laser-cut prints.
Models Signed
Global agency Wilhelmina Models signed three Native models, Aliyah Owasicha, Tesla Wolfe and Elizabeth Reynoso after their NFWSF runway debuts. Owasicha said, “[NFWSF] created a space that wasn’t just about fashion—it was about safety, connection, expression and growth… I’m thrilled to now be signed with Wilhelmina.”
Designer Breakthrough
Korina Emmerich will show her next collection at New York Fashion Week this autumn.
Creative Ecosystem in Motion
Programming included:
- Panels featuring Christian Allaire (Vogue journalist and author of The Power of Style and From the Rez to the Runway, Steven Kolb (CFDA, CEO) & Jamie Okuma focused on editorial sovereignty, IP, and business infrastructure
- Film screenings at Violet Crown Cinema, exploring fashion’s role in storytelling, memory and cultural resurgence
- Trunk shows and pop‑ups that put revenue in designers’ hands
Above are mainstay programs of a growing NFWSF infrastructure, not momentary activations.
Cultural Visibility & Strategic Expansion
NFWSF’s runway also showcased political and cultural solidarity:
- Front‑row attendance from Wes Studi (Avatar), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, and Jessica Matten (Dark Winds)
- Support from Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández and Secretary Deb Haaland
- Event coverage across Vogue, Forbes, Fashionista, CFDA and Indigenous media, reaching over 2.2 million viewers and increasing Railyard foot traffic by 42%
“Native Fashion Week looks ahead with intention,” said Bear Robe. “This was always the beginning of something ongoing — creative, economic, sovereign.”
