The inaugural Santa Fe Indigenous Fashion Week convened by the Southwestern Association for American Indian Arts (SWAIA) is set to take place between May 2 and 5 next year in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The four-day event will begin with a fashion symposium and launch celebration on May 2 followed by a soiree and runway event showcasing Indigenous talent from across North America.

The program is launched by curator and art historian Amber-Dawn Bear Robe who has spent the past 10 years producing various indigenous fashion shows and exhibitions for SWAIA.

“SWAIA’s Indigenous Fashion Show began in 2014 with no budget, a U-Haul to transport models to the outside runway location and a DJ with a microphone.

“To have the support of both SWAIA and the City of Santa Fe is immense. We plan to create the fashion hub for and to represent the diversity of Indigenous designers from the US and Canada on a national platform,” said Robe.