Native Love, a cultural preservation group for youth in Ignacio, Colorado, recently hosted its second annual fashion show and fundraiser at the Southern Ute Cultural Center & Museum.
Traditional Indigenous fashion is associated with a sense of identity, family and storytelling. Native Love’s fashion show goes beyond that, allowing children to freely express themselves through traditional dress, beadwork or clothing with a modern flair.
Kristean Velasquez, an organizer of Native Love, hosted the runway as about 20 children and adults walked the runway in colorful dresses, fashionable street clothes and sports uniforms.
“Just giving kids the opportunity to express themselves in any way they want and giving them the space to do that without anyone judging them. I love it,” Velasquez said.
O’olcu Buckskin organized the fashion show. She said the event provides another way for children to express themselves.
“Not everyone can go to the powwow. Not everyone can do beading. Some of us like fashion. Some of us might want to be models. You don’t have to say much. You just say it through body language,” Buckskin said.
Clark Adomaitis
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KSUT/KSJD
Liana Daniels is an indigenous fashion designer from Farmington, New Mexico. Young people presented their skirts and dresses on the catwalk.
“I never usually see the people who buy my stuff wearing it. I don’t see it. I don’t see pictures. Today I saw it with my own eyes and it almost brought me to tears a little bit,” Daniels said.
Native Love’s fashion show ended with an awards ceremony for the participants. Native Love plans to continue its fashion show in the future.
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