The Tamesis
Last Saturday night, the entrance to the historic Eldorado Hotel in downtown Santa Fe became a striking street style spectacle that could rival any major fashion capital. Dressed in their finest Aboriginal designs and jewelry (including the most stunning turquoise pumpkin blossom necklace you have ever seen), guests arrived in droves for the 2026 SWAIA Aboriginal Fashion Week Gala and Show, which showcased the latest creations from five contemporary Aboriginal designers: Jamie Okuma, Pamela Baker, Patricia Michaels, Jontay Kahm and Lauren Good Day.
Of course, this isn’t the first time this mysterious New Mexico City has turned into an exciting center for Native fashion: every August, the Santa Fe Indian Market brings together more than 1,000 Native artists and designers from more than 200 different tribal nations, who all display and sell their various creations in the downtown plaza. Last weekend, however, the same style of buzz was injected into Santa Fe’s slow months, as a unique group of Native pioneers and innovators came together to instantly enliven the city. What’s your mission this weekend? Focus on artists who blend traditional craftsmanship (from leatherwork to beadwork and more) with fresh, contemporary elements.
