Penny Singer (Diné)
Penny Singer began sewing at a young age, but didn’t get serious about creating clothing until college. While at IAIA, she made dance regalia and ribbon shirts for a friend, and then later decided to sell her ribbon shirts at Indian markets. Since then, she has expanded to men’s and women’s shirts, jackets, vests, capes, and accessories. Utilizing Native iconography her designs range from relatively simple to highly complex. To some degree her designs are universal across many tribal affiliations, including corn, turtles, rivers, dragonflies, butterflies and horses, as well as symbols specific to her Diné heritage.
She states, “The finished products are not simply clothes and handbags; they are true works of wearable fine art of the highest caliber, reflecting traditional Native designs in contemporary form.” She sees the fabric that she uses as a canvas, the thread as her color palette, and the sewing machine and needle as her brush. Originally trained as a photographer and videographer, she now incorporates photographs to tell stories through her wearable art. Working mostly at Indian markets and craft shows, Singer has slowly earned significant recognition and a loyal following.
Visit Penny Singer's website for more information
(Image from PennySinger.com)
(Image from PennySinger.com)
(Image from PennySinger.com)
(Image my own - taken at the Heard Indian Market) 
(Image my own - taken at the Heard Indian Market)
(Image my own - taken at the Heard Indian Market)