2024 WIASM Indigenous Fashion Designers
WIA, Inc. and Shinymoon Creations partnered to spotlight 8 talented designers in a Woodland-themed fashion showcase.
Meet this year's designers.
Meet this year's designers.
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Shinymoon Creations
Jennifer Benally Jennifer Benally is of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Her paternal clan is Lakwáho (Wolf Clan) of the Onʌyoteˀa·ka (People of the Standing Stone). Her maternal clan is Bit’ahnii (Within his Cover) of the Diné people. She currently resides in Rio Rancho, NM, with her family. She is the designer/seamstress/owner of Shinymoon Creations. Jennifer has been creating wearable masterpieces for over thirty years, from powwow dance regalia to traditional ceremonial and contemporary clothing. Jennifer graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM, May 2023 where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts with an emphasis in photography and Haudenosaunee pottery. She was also selected for a 10-week internship at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon in the summer of 2023 where she was on the Color & Trend team learning about fashion forecasting. A first ever collaboration between IAIA and Nike, Inc. Jennifer strives to bridge the gap between tradition and contemporary by keeping the Indigenous culture alive through her creations. Her clothing/fashion for both men and women instill confidence and pride with its vibrant colors and designs. She brings wearable masterpieces to life. She placed ribbons at the Santa Fe Indian Market, Navajo Nation Fair, the Tesoro Indian Marker Art Show, and Red Earth Festival. As a National Artist, she has been invited to participate as a featured designer at the Women in Tribl Gaming Fashion Show, Navajo Nation Fair Fashion Show, Four Corners Film Festival Fashion show and the Woodland Art Show. |
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Cristina and Connie Danforth
Cristina has been beading and sewing since she was 13 years old. She is self taught, learned by observing how garments are put together. She taught her daughter Connie how to bead and sew at a young age. Connie learned to do raised beadwork 15 years ago with instruction of her mother Cristina. They both create traditional and contemporary designs. Their traditional attire is worn in both ceremony and social settings. They also create regalia to encourage others to dance and participate in cultural events. Connie toured National with the American Indian Dance Theatre and “Spirit” The 7th Fire, in which she wore her own creations. Connie and her mother continue to collaborate on custom designs and projects for family and friends. |
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Hody's Basement
Hattie Summers and Family Our sewing journey started in a house on Hwy H many years ago with our grandma Hattie (Moore) Schuyler. Grandma Hattie taught Grandma Hody (Harriet Schuyler Reiter) all the ins and outs of sewing, who continues to teach the next few generations of our family. Our greatest ideas came from the "sweat shop" in Grandma Hody's basement. As we grew older we hopped through all of our mother's basements, hence the name "Hody's Basement Bandits". The Woodland Indian Art Show gave us the idea to come back to square one and create with Hody. Our vision for the fashion show is to combine the spirit of our ancestors with today's modern designs. |
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Good Feather Designs
Aissa Roberts “Mąąšųpįį” of Good Feather Designs, is an enrolled Ho-Chunk Nation member and Forest County Potawatomi descendant. She is a member of the Bear clan and resides in Ringle, WI with her husband and children. Aissa is a self-taught seamstress of 5 years. She is known for her ribbon skirts and specializes in contemporary woodland applique designs. Inspired by nature, each individual applique piece that Aissa creates is never reproduced. Every one of a kind design is created, hand cut, and sewn with precision and finesse. Always incorporating good feelings, she originates her work for ceremonies, pow-wows, special events and normalizing every day wear. |
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Yuntleʔkala·ú McLester
Shekoli Yuntleʔkala·ú McLester niyukyats. Hello my name is Yuntleʔkala·ú which means “She’s Lightning”. Since I was a young girl, my curiosity to my grandmothers crafts has led me to my own creative interests. She was the first person to put a needle and thread in my hand and taught me raised beadwork. I was intrigued by the different projects my grandmother would work on and she would encourage me to sit beside her to teach me. Once I entered motherhood, I’ve done my best to pay those efforts forward with my children. My son, Tehakahliyose, and daughter, Wayeyá•tohtsyahte carry that same curiosity and creativity as I did and the generations that came before them. I strive to honor my little ones as well as my mother and grandmother in my creations. They are my drive to push the limits of my creativity and keep my passions alive. My new designs carry the vision to integrate the different arts I’ve come to love such as silver work, beadwork, sewing, and painting. The 2023 WIAMS fashion show was the push I needed to continue to pursue my love of fashion and innovative pieces. |
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Star In The Sky Sewing
HarmonyStar Straub My name is HarmonyStar Straub. I am Oglala Lakota and Northern Cheyenne, enrolled in Pine Ridge. I am from the White River Thiyospaye from Crawford, Nebraska. I have been sewing and beading for over 35 years. I learned from my grandma. I was born with bad lungs, therefore I couldn’t go outside and run around and do the different things my siblings did. My grandma sat me down at her table and taught me to sew and bead the way she did. She never used a pattern, just took measurements, and went to work. I remember her using her fingers and hand to measure things. And because of this I never learned to use patterns either. I still use my fingers, hands, and measurements the way she did. I remember her telling me I am teaching you this because some day I will be gone, and if I don’t teach you, no one will be able to do it for you. What she said really hit home when she passed away. Now it’s my turn as the next generation to teach what she has taught me or her knowledge will die with me. My formal line was inspired by my niece Bailey. She needed a dress for a formal event that would also allow her to express herself as a young Native girl. Something that could be worn with her beadwork and show That she was proud of who she was and her culture but fit the criteria of formal wear. So, I took my sewing skills and created her a dress. |
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It's S.E.W. Me Designs
Sunny Webster My name is Sunny E Webster. I am from the Oneida tribe of Wisconsin . I was born and raised in Chicago but moved to the Oneida Reservation in 2016. I went to The Illinois Institute of Arts and received my Bachelors in Fine Arts. I have loved sewing ever since my first sewing class in college. After many years of costume designing for stage performer I started creating clothing and accessories with Indigenous designs on them. I really enjoy showing my contemporary flare in my designs. I use many kinds of fabrics, and materials in my pieces to accentuate my individuality. In 2010 I had the great honor of teaching a sewing class to a group of kids from the PRAA (Puerto Rican Arts Alliance) in Humboldt Park.The kids ages ranged from 8 - 16 years old. Not only did I teach them how to create and construct their own designs, but I also taught them about their Indigenous roots of the Taino tribe from Puerto Rico. I am proud to say I am still friends with a few of the students and they have very fond memories of the class. I currently work from home building my brand and am very happy with my career and being my own boss. |
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Wah-to'-ben
Vanita Danielle Wheelock My friends call me Vanny. My native name is "Wah-toben" which means 'walk through the woods.' I am the proud daughter of Huston Vallee Wheelock who was a full blooded member of the Oneida Nation; people of the standing stone. My Mother, Charlene Hawpet Wheelock, was Menominee and Potawatomi. I like to tell people I'm a M.O.P., Menominee, Oneida, Potawatomi. I began sewing at a young age, mentored by my Mother. She reminded me often, "we create traditional clothing, not costumes." I would take some of her sewing scraps to create ribbon shirts, shirts, shawls, and buckskin boots for my dolls. Once I had achieved success with needle and thread she allowed me to move up to making my clothing on her Kenmore. In my adult life I have designed dance regalia, formal gowns, wedding dresses, complete alterations, along with my cherished traditional clothing of my culture. Today I enjoy designing without patterns, making each piece unique to the individual. |
