Miss Mondo Covers Maori Fashion

Miss Mondo has the latest dish on the Miromoda show held at the beginning of June. One recent post is about Maori design collective Dmonic Intent, who debuted their winning collection.

A Debut for DMONIC INTENT at ANZFW 2011:

Dmonic Intent made up of three sisters Maxine Wooldridge, Samara Wooldridge and Khris Leach earned first place in the Couture section of the 2011 Miromoda Fashion Design Awards held over the long weekend in Wellington with their collection entitled Black Sheep, they were also named runners-up in the Established section for their collection The Alchemist.

This family affair are three years into the fashion game and have gained a cult like following for their brand DMONIC INTENT.

Breeze: Reclaiming Sacred Knowledge with Streetwear

Thomas Marcus, aka Breeze, is one of my favorite street artists. He is Tohono O’odham from the Gila River and Salt River communities located near Phoenix. Breeze is a quiet storm, producing colorful graphic art that radiates out like a beautiful explosion.

Inspired by traditional O’odham basketry, Breeze’s two-dimensional art references the intricate patterns made by his ancestors.

But Breeze also translates his distinctive style to the world of streetwear, and his latest t-shirt design is based on the idea of taking back and taking over sacred symbols, geometry, and knowledge. Yes, he is badass like that.

Pride Parade - Playing Indian?

Hello blog friends!

This is just a quick post to let you all know of a recent situation that occurred in Santa Fe -

Today was the annual Santa Fe Pride Parade, and a few of my friends attended and were shocked to find 'white boys' playing 'Indian.' This is particularly shocking because the whole point of Pride Parade is, as my friend states below, 'to abolish hate and stereotypes in order to celebrate equality, difference, diversity and tolerance.'

Since this blog focuses on issues related to representation, and encourages people to think 'beyond buckskin', I wanted to post the letter that my friend sent earlier today.

UPDATE: Please click here to add your name to another letter written in response to the presence of the "Cowboys and Indians" parade float.

(This is not Santa Fe's Parade, this was Miami Pride Parade 2010 - is 'Playing Indian' an acceptable Pride Parade thing? Photo by Jessica R. Metcalfe)

(Santa Fe Pride Parade 2011. Playin Indian photo by Joslyn Baker, Soluna Studio, Commercial Photography)

Hi All,

I attended the Santa Fe Pride parade in the railyard this morning and was shocked with what was included in the parade - a truck load of white boys playing indian. I approached the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance and asked them to take responsibility and to address it immediately and publicly since they had the platform. The Vice-president blew me off so I waited to hear the speeches by all political constituents expressing Santa Fe's tolerance of all. Upon discussing the "situation" with the president, she tried to dismiss it but I was somewhat relentless and told her her organization needs to take responsibility. I left.

Turquoise Soul's Feather Frenzie

Here's your sneak peek of Turquoise Soul's new collection of earrings and accessories.

Dubbed Feather Frenzie, the new collection will pair feathers with hardware for some sassy Native-made jewelry.

Turquoise Soul is headed up by Wabanoonkwe Cameron-Hernandez (Ojibwe), who did the photography and make-up for this shoot, which features model India Lowery Jones (Lumbee).

Butterfly Beauty: Interview with First Nations Model Vina Brown

“Beauty has to exist within before it can shine through in its purest form.” – Vina Brown, First Nations model

Check this out – it’s a really interesting interview with a First Nations model that was published on Butterfly Collection Lingerie's blog for National Aboriginal Day in Canada (which was June 21st). Events take place across the country all month to celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal cultures, the importance of First Nations people to the foundations and progress of Canada, as well as a celebration of the cultural traditions, music, and food.

One of Butterfly Collection Lingerie's models is First Nations.

The author of the blog states, "Not only is she a great role model for curvy women she also illuminates how our diversity is beautiful. On her return from the 28th annual Miss Indian World pageant, I interviewed Vina Brown about what it’s like to be an Aboriginal model in Canada. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do."

Here's the interview:

The Beauty of Aboriginal Day

What is your Aboriginal name?
My Heiltsuk name is Glwaxx which means ocean-going canoe. My adult name is going to translate into Silver-tip Grizzly bear. There are different stages in one's life and my people believe that you need to change your name to suit you as you complete each stage in your life. It recognizes, supports and honors these important transitions.

DeMontigny Designs for Haida Musician

Fashion designer Angela DeMontigny outfits Haida musician Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson for her latest CD.

DeMontigny says, "I am proud to announce the upcoming launch of Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson's newest cd....I am also proud to have her wearing some of my custom designs...especially the jacket on her stunning album cover."

With this CD, Williams-Davidson is striving to keep tradition alive by introducing something new. She has written: A responsibility of aboriginal artists, storytellers or singers is to keep the knowledge alive, and if need be, to change the ceremonies or bring new creations into the world so that the knowledge remains relevant to people. To remain static denies the creativity and genius that flows from the Creator.

(Williams-Davidson wearing a black leather trench with lime green mongolian lamb collar made by DeMontigny)

Roosters, Fishermen, Celebrities and Salons: The Feather Extensions Trend

A most interesting trend has been sweeping the nation since the start of the year.

Thanks to celebrities like Ke$ha and Miley Cyrus, feathers are fluttering into young women's hair as part of a hot new accessory trend. Colorful and earth-toned bird feathers are woven into hair to create a hippy-meets-Native-American-meets-funky-rocker look.

Just how rooster feathers became such a rage is a bit hard to explain. It could be coming from the 'exotic' tribal trend. It could be inspired by Native American traditional headdresses. It could also be influenced by Steven Tyler, who sits on this year's "American Idol" judges panel and dons feathers daily.

Indigenous Fashion Statement - Maori Fashion

I love what Miromoda is doing - each year they host a competition in which Maori designers compete in various categories to win an opportunity to show at New Zealand Fashion Week. It is a way of ensuring that Maori designers are included in NZFW, and that they are the best of the best for that year. Below is an article that discusses the recent competition (which wrapped up at the beginning of June).

(Adrienne Whitewood (far right) Miromoda 2011 Overall Winner and winner of the Established section with her collection Te Aho Tapu)

Indigenous Fashion Statement
By Editors at The Big Idea

The Miromoda Maori Fashion Design Award winners and runners up who will showcase at NZ Fashion Week in August have been announced.

Official Results were:
- Established and Overall winner: Adrienne Whitewood (rotorua); Runners Up D’monic Intent (Auckland)
- Emerging Winner: Tara Warren (Brisbane)
- Haute Couture: D’monic Intent (Auckland)
- Tee Shirt: Kereama Taepa (Rotorua), Tai Kerekere (Wellington)

The 2010 Miromoda showcase at NZFW was voted best show of the week by Dominion Post Fashion Editor, Carolyn Enting and reported as the most photographed show by International media.

Video | Miromoda 2011

The 2011 Miromoda fashion awards competition just wrapped up, and videos from the Maori fashion event are slowly being posted.

Here's one showing Maori fashion designer Johnson Witehira explaining the concept behind one of his designs in the T-Shirt category of the Miromoda Fashion Awards Design.

Cheef Trading

The website for Cheef Trading, operated by Jolene Chee, is up and running, and you can now purchase t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories all online.

Click here to purchase your I heart Rez Boys or Frybread Does a Body Good t-shirts.

Cheef Trading is a Native owned company, bringing fashion forward styles with a native flair to stylish people.

Martini Couture Beaded Earrings

Dii Martin of Martini Couture has created a bunch of new accessories that include these beaded earrings.

They are nice and long, and lengths run between 5 to 6 inches.

Find Martini Couture on Facebook if you'd like to order a set (prices range from $10-$25).

Bye-bye Urban Outfitters (support Native-made Native fashion!)

Sho Sho Esquiro's New Website

Fashion designer Sho Sho Esquiro has a new website - and it's easy to remember: shoshoesquiro.com.

On her new site, you can read up on her bio, check out her portfolio, and view her gallery images, so click away!

Ancient Roots Recognized in New First Nations Graduation Scarves

Paige Isaac (B.Sc, 2008) Interim Coordinator First Peoples' House presents Loanna Zacharie (B.SW) with the new red scarf. Looking on is Linda Gabriel who is wearing a white scarf for her Certificate in Education for First Nations and Inuit. / Photo: Adam Scotti

Ancient Roots Recognized in New First Nations Graduation Scarves
By Tamarah Feder

Graduating from McGill will take on a deeper meaning for both the University and many Aboriginal students as a new scarf is introduced into convocation ceremonial dress. The scarf also represents an historic and symbolic gesture acknowledging the importance of Aboriginal students and their ties to the University.

The scarf, presented to graduating students at a ceremony on Tuesday evening, was born from one offered by the McGill’s First Peoples’ House to visiting Aboriginal alumni during the annual pow-wow. The combined efforts of First People’s House and Aboriginal outreach and awareness programs by the University administration and funding from the Quebec Ministry of Education led to a broad consultative process that now offers a specially designed scarf for graduating Aboriginal students.

Cheef Runway

Designer Jolene Chee
Model - Deirdre Begay
Photographer- Andrea Ashkie

Arrows influenced this first time collection for Cheef Runway, made by Navajo designer Jolene Chee. All black and red jersey knit pieces were made from used tshirts found at second hand stores to reduce waste.

Video | Colin Coonsis

Zuni inlay jewelry artist Colin Coonsis, the son of well known jewelry makers from Zuni Pueblo is continuing a family legacy and making a name for himself with his new "Shattered" style, a contemporary take on traditional inlay. Last fall, Coonsis was part of an opening at Legends Gallery Santa Fe, NM (www.legendssantafe.com). Here is a promotional video featuring new pieces from his "Shattered" Collection.

For more information visit www.colincoonsis.com. (Video produced by Paul Niemi www.paulniemi.com)