The high desert landscape of Santa Fe with its pinyon trees and red earth transforms into a vibrant stage for the second edition of SWAIA Native Fashion Week 2025, a celebration of Indigenous fashion that redefines the concept of luxury, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Over the course of five days, until May 11, adobe-lined streets, artisan markets, and the runways of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center set the scene for the evolution of Native cultures through fashion.
More than 20 designers from the United States and Canada, in collaboration with Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW), an event founded in 2017 that has reshaped perceptions of Indigenous fashion worldwide, come together to present collections that express identity through design. Indigenous fashion is not just an aesthetic to be interpreted; it is a visual language that conveys stories, symbols, and new opportunities for both emerging and established designers.
Renowned artists such as Patricia Michaels (PM Waterlily), Sage Mountainflower, Kaylyn Baker (Kaylyn Baker Designs), and Lesley Hampton (Temagami First Nation) are set to unveil collections that fuse ancestral techniques with innovation, redefining the concept of heritage fashion. The Santa Fe Community Convention Center will host key runway moments, while the Plaza and Canyon Road, known for their boutiques and art galleries, provide exclusive trunk shows and designer meetups.
During the Industry Day, held on May 8, designers, investors, and fashion experts discussed the challenges and opportunities of being a Native designer in today’s fashion industry. Conversations highlighted the importance of public health and sustainability, stressing that cultural manufacturing, deeply rooted in Indigenous artisanal traditions, requires structural support to ensure the well-being of artisans—whether in terms of workplace safety, healthcare access, or economic assistance. Culture and well-being are intrinsically linked, and economic autonomy can serve as a means of safeguarding both.
A key theme of this edition is Beyond Philanthropy, a concept that marks a significant shift: Indigenous fashion should no longer be viewed as an industry reliant on charitable support, but rather as an independent economic force that demands recognition within the global fashion system. Strategic partnerships are essential in securing economic equity and respect for Indigenous intellectual property.
Underlining the urgency of these issues, Ysidro Barela, a federal agent at Policy Cultural Heritage USA, highlighted a critical challenge: “The Native American art market faces ethical business practice concerns and the presence of counterfeit products, which harm both artists and consumers.”
SWAIA Native Fashion Week 2025 kicked off with an exclusive industry gathering at the Governor’s Mansion, the official residence of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, setting the tone for a week dedicated to fashion, innovation, and cultural identity.
