Indigenous fashion continues to grace the runways across the nation and internationally. Leading the way with culturally fueled artistic expressions that tie his heritage to modern style is designer Loren Aragon of fashion brand ACONAV, who continues to challenge creativity on and off the runway. A new discovery of high-end fashion in film has provoked a collaboration between Loren Aragon and Orlando Skidmore of Mesa Mountain Film. In the coming months, a newly assembled New Mexico-based team will kick off the production of a first-of-its-kind short to present in film festivals nationally and possibly internationally. The first stop of this journey was a fashion show which kicked off the indigenous culture-filled weekend in Albuquerque, NM.
Aragon, a former engineer turned fashion designer from the Acoma Pueblo of NM has represented native fashion on runways across the nation and is now bringing the high-end experience to the city of Albuquerque. The launch of a new project in film has provoked an effort to raise funds for a first-of-its-kind Native Fashion Film. Aragon and a team of local creatives in film as well as partners sparked the interests of the public at the Made For Her Fashion Show event at the Clyde Hotel, formerly the Hyatt Regency in downtown Albuquerque. The showcase was presented on Thursday, April 28th on the opening night of the indigenous culture-filled weekend which brings crowds in for the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. The lineup of designers included NDNTIME, a new rising brand led by Levi Blackwolf from the northwest, NM native fashion brand Sage Mountain Flower of the San Juan Pueblo, NM, and ACONAV. The stage was set for the fashionable evening which included a marketplace of indigenous vendors.
Aragon and Skidmore started collaborating on capturing the fashion creations of Aragon on film and in photography. The designer and director came together on the idea of creating something different in film to set it apart from the mundane. “Orlando approached me with an idea for a film that would capture the creative talents in my fashions and in his passion for film” explains Aragon. “We are fortunate to have connected with the same passion and energy of Audre Holtz of Audre Photography, who has become our writer in this film. It is sure to be one of a kind and will challenge all our creative minds equally. The story is about culture, forbidden love, and ultimately about fashion,” adds Aragon. Indigenous fashion has ignited an interest in an underrepresented community thanks to rising designers such as Aragon. “It’s great to see my fellow indigenous fashion designers making waves on all levels in the fashion community,” states Aragon. “It’s always great to see what our continuing efforts do to inspire others in fashion and in all the arts.”
The team has an active Indiegogo campaign to help raise funds for the film.
