Celebrate Native American Designers

Protesting Dakota Access Pipeline

Native Americans are in the news as their communities fight to protect their sacred land over the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Urban Outfitters is in a long running legal battle with the Navajo Nation over the illegal use of their name and aesthetics without their permission.

There are ongoing cultural battles over the use of Native American representations as mascots for sports teams.

We support their efforts to protect their culture. An interesting article in Fashionista posed the following question:

“So what if you love the jewelry or clothing made and worn by indigenous peoples, but that’s not your heritage? Luckily for you, many Native American artists don’t actually mind non-Natives wearing their designs or borrowing from their aesthetic. They just want to be fairly compensated and recognized for their cultural contribution. In short, wearing Native American patterns or jewelry is fine as long as you bought them from an actual Native American designer. And if there’s something that you really shouldn’t be wearing — i.e. a headdress with special religious or tribal significance — the artist you’re buying from will likely let you know.”

Part of our mission is to promote the work and artistry of local designers whether in the mountains of Haiti or the Black Hills of the Dakotas. Traveling around the country, we cannot help but be captivated by Native American artists and craftsmen. Unfortunately, sometimes it is a political boiling point that makes us step back and look again at what lies below the surface.

We highlight one of many Native American jewelers today. Her website makes a very compelling case for a better understanding of the Buy Native campaign:

Pelican Bracelet

http://www.kristendorseydesigns.com/buy-native-campaign/

Pink Sapphire Barnacle Ring

Now might be the right moment to learn more about the artistry of our country’s Native Americans and make a fashion statement with a piece of stunning Native American jewelry at this year’s holiday parties.

Lucy and Claudia