Fashion designer Bethany Yellowtail wants to combat stereotypes and redefine aboriginal fashion in a beautifully authentic way. A member of the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Nations in south-eastern Montana, Yellowtail has sought to honor the beauty and strength of of the Native American community through her designs.
Her latest collection is titled 'The Mighty Few,' which is the same name of her home district on the Crown nation. The pieces themselves are inspired by the transitional period during which European clothing began to overtake traditional aboriginal attire. With its blend of old and new, the collection boosts colorful prints embellished with artisanal details. Each beautiful design is exclusively modeled by indigenous people to showcase the diverse members of the aboriginal community, while presenting a contemporary image of Native American people.
Feminine Aboriginal Fashions
Bethany Yellowtail's New Line Draws on Her Native American Roots
Trend Themes
1. Authentic Aboriginal Fashion - There is a growing trend towards creating fashion that authentically reflects and honors Native American culture, offering opportunities for brands to collaborate with indigenous designers and artisans.
2. Blending Traditional with Contemporary - The merging of traditional aboriginal attire with modern fashion elements presents an innovative approach in the fashion industry, creating opportunities for designers to reinvent traditional designs.
3. Representation of Indigenous Community - The trend of featuring indigenous models exclusively in fashion campaigns and runway shows is gaining momentum, opening up opportunities for inclusive and diverse representation in the fashion industry.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Design - Fashion designers can tap into the demand for authentic aboriginal fashion by incorporating traditional elements into their collections and collaborating with indigenous designers and artisans.
2. Textile Manufacturing - The need for artisanal details and colorful prints in authentic aboriginal fashion opens up manufacturing opportunities for textile companies specializing in high-quality, sustainable materials.
3. Modeling and Modeling Agencies - With the growing demand for diverse and inclusive representation in the fashion industry, modeling agencies can capitalize on the trend by actively seeking out and promoting indigenous models for various fashion campaigns and runway shows.