Salt Lake City’s Leonardo Museum played host to the second annual Utah Indigenous Fashion Week on Saturday, drawing a vibrant gathering of models, designers, and enthusiasts from 12 diverse tribes.
Organized by a dedicated collective known as Utah Indigenous Fashion Week, the event showcased the talents of 19 designers hailing from across the state. From contemporary twists on traditional attire to haute couture collections and avant-garde creations, the fashion show offered a kaleidoscope of Indigenous creativity.
Jessica Wiarda, the director of Utah Indigenous Fashion Week, emphasized the event’s significance in celebrating Indigenous cultures and elevating their creators onto a broader platform. “We always express ourselves through what we wear,” Wiarda explained. “So it’s just a perfect way to express more about what we believe, what we feel, and through a truly Indigenous lens.”
While currently operated by volunteers, Wiarda envisions the event evolving into a nonprofit organization by next year. This transition would enable the group to access grants and compensate employees, further solidifying its impact and sustainability.
The resounding success of the fashion show was palpable as an exuberant, sold-out crowd showered models and designers with enthusiastic applause and cheers. Adding to the event’s unique charm was the inclusion of everyday Indigenous women, children, and men from diverse backgrounds as models.
Rica Benally, one of the models adorned in a design aimed at raising awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, reflected on the evolution of Indigenous fashion. “I feel that Indigenous fashion has come a really far way,” Benally expressed. “There are traditional looks that are being put on pieces that are, you could say, from the Y2K era, from the 80s. It’s so interesting because you can really throw a beautiful pattern on something so modern, and it ties it together so well.”
For attendee Gabe Brody, the fashion show transcended mere runway displays, serving as a poignant celebration of cultural exchange and Native American talent. “Every tribe is unique,” Brody observed. “Every tribe is different. They have their own culture, their own customs, their own songs, their own dances. And we get people that come together like this. It’s a beautiful thing. Indigenous voices are rising.”
