As we enter the Thanksgiving season, a time for gratitude, reflection, and honoring those who came before us, we want to spotlight a group of extraordinary creatives reshaping today’s fashion landscape. These designers and artists are redefining the industry by uplifting, honoring, and celebrating Native American heritage through their craft.
In an era dominated by fast fashion, fleeting microtrends, and constant novelty, their work stands apart. They create pieces grounded in tradition yet alive with contemporary vision, weaving together ancestral knowledge, cultural symbolism, and modern design. These creators remind us that fashion is not just about what’s new, it's about storytelling, identity, and the preservation of culture.
Here we celebrate the Indigenous artists whose enduring influence brings depth, meaning, and beauty to the world of fashion.
Bethany Yellowtail
Bethany Yellowtail, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and born on the Apsáalooke (Crow) Reservation in Montana, founded her brand B.Yellowtail in 2015. Her work beautifully blends contemporary silhouettes and modern fabrics with vibrant prints, colors, and cultural motifs inspired by Crow and Cheyenne aesthetics. Through B.Yellowtail, Bethany is dedicated to sharing authentic Indigenous design with the world and addressing the longstanding underrepresentation of Indigenous culture in the fashion industry. An award-winning designer and business owner, she has created stunning pieces across jewelry, home goods, and apparel, each one a testament to her commitment to cultural storytelling and artistic excellence.
Jamie Okuma
Jamie Okuma’s fashion journey began on the La Jolla Band Reservation in California, where her Luiseño and Shoshone Bannock heritage shaped the foundation of her creative work. She first became known for her beadwork and soft sculptural art, practices rooted in story and tradition, which later evolved into the signature techniques behind her couture and ready-to-wear designs. Her talent has earned her widespread recognition, including a standout debut on the Council of Fashion Designers of America's New York Fashion Week calendar and inclusion in major museum collections such as the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, solidifying her place as a leading voice in contemporary Indigenous fashion.
Lloyd Kiva New
Lloyd Kiva New, a member of the Cherokee Nation, is widely regarded as a pioneer of Indigenous American fashion design in the mid-twentieth century. He opened the Kiva boutique, followed by a design center, where he created leatherwork, handbags, and garments that honored Indigenous art and aesthetics in a refined, contemporary style. New went on to co-found the Institute of American Indian Arts, serving as both art director and director, and played a transformative role in educating and mentoring new generations of Indigenous artists and designers. His work is celebrated for bridging the gap between Native design and mainstream American fashion at a time when stereotypes and social barriers made such visibility difficult, solidifying his legacy as a foundational figure in modern Indigenous fashion.
Dorothy Grant
Dorothy Grant, a member of the Haida Nation from Ketchikan, Alaska, began her career as a designer in the late 1980s, building a body of work that serves as a living expression of Haida culture. Drawing inspiration from traditional crests, formline, and motifs, she creates fashion garments that function as both wearable art and cultural statement. Her pieces have been featured in prominent museum exhibitions, including Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. An award-winning designer and businesswoman with international recognition, Dorothy Grant continues to innovate in contemporary fashion while honoring and elevating Haida culture.
Delina White
Delina White, a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota, is the founder of the fashion line I Am Anishinaabe, a brand dedicated to celebrating Indigenous identity through materials such as beads, leather, shells, and other traditional elements. Her designs center on cultural empowerment and representation, with a special focus on creating gender fluid and Two-Spirit affirming clothing that uplifts LGBTQ and Two Spirit community members. Through runway shows, workshops, and public presentations, White challenges narrow stereotypes of “Native fashion” and reframes it as a vibrant, evolving expression of Anishinaabe culture. Her work has earned numerous artistic awards and was featured in the acclaimed Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, highlighting her impact as both an artist and cultural advocate.
As these remarkable designers show, Native fashion is not a trend or a nostalgic reference point but a powerful, evolving art form rooted in identity, innovation, and community. Each of these creators carries forward generations of knowledge while carving space for Indigenous voices in contemporary fashion. Their work inspires not only through beauty and craftsmanship but through the stories, resilience, and cultural pride woven into every piece. As we move through this season of reflection and gratitude, it is important to honor and uplift the Indigenous artists shaping the fashion world today, reminding us that Native creativity has always been here and continues to thrive.
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