by guest post writer Brenton Bluehouse
A backdrop of loudly tattered beat music played inside as it covered what was already playing hip-hop old school connection of 90’s tunes outside in the bar that would be the setting for the RED Runway fashion design premier. Club 405 was probably not the best venue to hold such an event, but when it comes to the Gathering of Nations weekend, it’s almost necessary to be where you know the brown masses are going to congregate and be there ready to show your stuff.
Being that this would be my first formal experiment with a fashion show in Native America, I went in with no expectations but a good time and a glimpse into the world of Native fashion.
With the beautiful landscape use of Native Model Studios USA and Canada, on the list of showing their fashion would be a number of talented fashion designers such as: Carol Melting Tallow, Alano Edzera, ShoSho Designs, Redhand Apparel, & more as the listing stated.
It was hard to determine when and where the fashion show started. Originally slated to begin at 9:30 pm, the first model strutted her style across the floor after the strike of midnight. Models slowly with some muffle, entered the bar via the bar room around the bar, into the dance floor, out onto the patio where a strip of waiting onlookers gazed with outstretched eyes and cameras. I was just happy that the venue started and the gorgeous models moved their fabrics towards me. There was a display of simple everyday wear with the print designs of tribal work. Prints with that of feathers, eagles, and the red designs that cover the Northwestern tribes of the U.S. What did catch my eye were the jackets with varied color and design. Old patterns of squares and stars mixed with contrasting colors of yellow and pink with sleeves of dainty cross lines of simple black and white. These jackets were the highlight of the show in my opinion. As some model shows last, this one was very fast but interesting in my eyes. As I return to look at the event, the goal is to promote the existence of Native fashion, and to make out the realization for those out there that the Native scene in fashion design and ‘lore is getting stronger with every stitch.
Afterwards, I spoke with one of the photographers of the evening Larry Price and he stated to me that one of the fashion designers had just flown in from Canada whom they were waiting for. That was the reason for the delay in the show. In the end the show for myself did not live up to its fashion and flare of its poster. I expected more coordination on behalf of the promoters and not just the walking out of the models in unawared connection. I have to applaud the efforts of the people involved and the models for waiting almost three hours later for the show to begin. With utter beginnings such as this one, I am not certain if the promoters should be looking for other jobs and the designers better venues to show case their marvelous talents. For they can only go higher from this point.