The Chickasaw Cultural Center presents the Native Creativity Fashion Show featuring wearable art inspirations through interwoven threads of fashion designs by First American designers from across the globe.
The show begins at 2 p.m. in the Anoli’ Theater. Featured designers will offer sales booths in the theater lobby following the show.
Featured designers and brands:
Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo) – ACONAV
Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw) – Mahota Textiles
Kayla Lookinghorse (Lakota) – K. Lookinghorse
Lea McCormick (Muscogee) – Heruse tos
About the Artists:
Loren Aragon
Headlining the event is renowned native designer Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo) to showcase the exclusive fashion of ACONAV. The Phoenix-based ACONAV is a “couture fashion brand that celebrates the strength and empowerment of women through design.”
Loren’s fashion was featured in a Disney exhibition and an ACONAV dress was worn on the red carpet of the 73rd Tony Awards. Loren was also recognized as the 2018 Couture Designer of the Year at Phoenix Fashion Week.
Margaret Roach Wheeler
Founded by Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw), Mahota Textiles launched in October 2018, creating textiles informed and inspired by Southeastern Indian tribal history, symbols and traditional stories. Mahota is the first tribally owned textile company in the United States, drawing inspiration from the Southeastern heritage of the Chickasaw Nation and other First American tribes to create elevated and meaningful textiles designed in Oklahoma by First American artisans.
Kayla Lookinghorse
Kayla Lookinghorse (Hunkpapa/Itazipco Lakota) crafts contemporary, wearable art under the brand name K. Lookinghorse. Her brand honors her heritage with a style specific to her family, and the symbology utilized in her designs honors the past, present and future of her people. Kayla has collaborated with notable designers including Lonewolf and Copper Canoe. Kayla states, “My work is about bringing to light the women ancestors whose strength flows through us all.”
Lea McCormick
Lea McCormick (Muscogee) is a fashion designer and professional actor who grew up in Bixby, Oklahoma. Lea has always worked in art mediums, eventually finding a love of fashion. In December 2021, she made a handbag for a red-carpet movie premiere and her business began. Lea has crafted more than 500 handbags to date and has been featured in New York Fashion Week.
Lea’s handbag fabric designs have now become a clothing line as well. Heruse (Beautiful) is a division of Heruse tos Handmade Handbags and is a clothing line for men and women. All of Lea’s designs are inspired by the Mississippian Era of the Southeastern Indian tribes.
