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SALT LAKE CITY — Native American designers in the fashion world sometimes have to put a check on their creative impulses, says Jessica Wiarda.
"We have to edit ourselves a lot to fit in the high-fashion spaces," she said.
In a bid to give them more creative leeway, though, Utah Indigenous Fashion Week is hosting a design and fashion show that will feature their work more on their terms. "It's like reclaiming ... ownership," said Wiarda, who's handling communications for the event.
The fashion presentation, now in its second year, is set for Saturday and will be held at the Leonardo Museum, 209 E. 500 South in Salt Lake City. General admission tickets are sold out, Wiarda said, but "VIP Access" tickets, offering access to more activities, are still available. VIP events start at 4:30 p.m. Saturday while the main show goes from 7-8 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.
Stella Standingbear, a singer and Native American artist, will perform, but the work of 19 designers will make up the bulk of the programming. The work to be featured comes from Hopi, Navajo, Ute, Northern Ute, Apache, Anishinaabe Ojibwe and other tribes.
"We'll start off traditional and go more and more contemporary," Wiarda said.
On display will be traditional Native American garb, powwow clothing and more contemporary offerings, including jewelry and accessories.
Utah Indigenous Fashion Week officials are still in the process of securing nonprofit status for the organization. All proceeds from the event will go to event costs and to performers and models.
