Six Indigenous Models On Finally Feeling Seen in Fashion
When Gabriela Hearst debuted her new spring 2022 collection during New York Fashion Week in September, her inclusive presentation stood out. For starters, Hearst collaborated with two Navajo weavers, Naiomi Glasses and TahNibaa Naataanii, to craft some of her new woven dresses and trenches. But she also cast a stellar lineup of Indigenous models to walk in the show, including Quannah Chasinghorse, Celeste Romero, and Valentine Alvarez. The Indigenous representation was not lost on the many fresh new faces backstage. “I really never saw Indigenous folks up on billboards or at fashion week, representing major commercial brands,” says Cherokee Jack, an Aniyunwiya model who walked the runway and held back tears after the show. “Now, kids on the rez, and even Indigenous folks in the city, can now look and see that it’s possible.”
Hearst aside, this past fashion month overall proved to be a real turning point in