rewrite Behind The Scenes Of The RES Indigenous Fashion Show in 6 to 8 words

The annual gathering of Native American leaders features a fan-favorite fashion show.

This month, thousands of Native American leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators gathered in Las Vegas for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s annual Reservation Economic Summit (RES). The largest and longest running Indigenous business-focused event in the country, the conference this year was themed Beyond Boundaries — and the star-studded main-stage panel discussions, educational breakout sessions, Native marketplace, and beloved Indigenous Fashion Show certainly lived up to that name.

A highlight of the annual Indigenous extravaganza, the fashion show was entitled Elevated Elegance: The Return of Grace and Glam, and featured five designers from across the United States and Canada, including headliner Sky-Eagle Collection, Choke Cherry Creek, K.Lookinghorse, Brocade, and Ay Lelum. Produced by Cora Kay Productions, the opulent affair took place on the tony rooftop of Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub. Hundreds of VIPs, fashionistas, and conference goers dressed in their finery flooded into the plush space to get a glimpse of the latest looks from these Native creatives, who are undoubtedly shaping the future of Indigenous fashion.

NCAIED President and CEO Chris James (Cherokee) kicked off the evening before handing the mic off to host Lillian Sparks Robinson (Rosebud Sioux), who serves as the organization’s vice board chair and is herself quite the fashionista, part of the founding trio behind the Indigenous Fashion Collective. To mark the special occasion, she wore a K.Lookinghorse dress honoring their shared Lakota heritage.

The first designer to hit the stage was Ay Lelum, a line of wearable Coast Salish art crafted by a multigenerational Snuneymuxw First Nation family based in British Columbia, Canada. Models with backgrounds in art and dance like Skylar Evans (Oglala Lakota/Irish) and Tesla Wolfe (Seminole/Creek/Shawnee) floated down the runway in couture creations and sneak-peek looks from the label’s forthcoming ready-to-wear collection. A common thread throughout it all? That eye-catching Coast Salish iconography.

Ay Lelum

“Although RES 2025 is an Indigenous economic summit, it was so much more than that,” says Ay Lelum Director Aunalee Boyd-Good, who along with her sister, Sophia Good, heads up the brand. “It was about building community and lifting each other up.”

Next up was Brocade, founded by Brocade Stops Black Eagle (Crow/Mandan/Hidatsa). Her lineup featured both more casual shirts and dresses adorned with Apsáalooke motifs as well as the crowd-favorite coordinated duo look, complete with a flowing floral lace overlay dress topped with fur for her and a dinner jacket and beaded bowtie for him.

K.Lookinghorse, the namesake line from Kayla Lookinghorse (Hunkpapa Lakota/Dakota Sioux), shared the spotlight with Vividus by Tierra Alysia (Kashia Pomo/Filipino). Together, they showcased feminine frocks and avant-garde ensembles, including a stunning buffalo bone dress. Among those strutting their stuff on the catwalk were special guest models like businesswoman/philanthropist Twila True (Oglala Lakota) and author/entrepreneur Sarah Eagle Heart (Oglala Lakota), cofounders of the Indigenous Fashion Collective.

Buffalo bone dress by K.Lookinghorse and Vividus

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Then, Choke Cherry Creek by Angela Howe (Apsáalooke) wowed with designs in seemingly every shade of the rainbow. The scene stealer? Hands down the breathtaking yellow gown with a striking shoulder detail that shimmered with every move made by model and pageant queen Maureen Mink (AKA Mrs. Navajo Nation World 2022 and 2023).

Finally, Sky-Eagle Collection by Dante Biss-Grayson (Osage) made its first appearance at the RES Indigenous Fashion Show as the headliner. Showcasing both couture and ready-to-wear looks, his collection was donned by models and VIPs alike, including the designer’s auntie Margo Gray, herself an Indigenous powerhouse who serves as executive director of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma, among many other roles in Indian Country. She wore a showstopping green lace dress meant to honor the warrior spirit.

Kate Nelson modeling for Sky-Eagle Collection

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Even with the nonstop parade of showpieces, perhaps the most impactful thing on display was the camaraderie between all those involved in bringing the fashion show to life. “The best part of the night? The love and support from everyone — not just my team, but from the other designers, models, and crew,” says Angela Howe of Choke Cherry Creek. “Seeing everyone cheering, hugging, and high-fiving after each set was truly the highlight of the night. That kind of uplifting energy is what makes this industry so special.”

Afterward, event attendees took the opportunity to cut loose after a day of hard work, tearing it up on the dance floor to tunes courtesy of DJ Emcee One (Osage/Potawatomi). Many people then made their way over to the Wynn, which held its first-ever Indigenous event: the unofficial fashion show after-party hosted by Tierra Alysia in honor of her Vividus brand.

All told, the annual summit — and the fashion show in particular — was an all-out celebration of Native excellence in all its forms. “RES 2025 was a testament to Indigenous leadership, artistry, and innovation,” concludes Dante Biss-Grayson of Sky-Eagle Collection. “The Indigenous fashion renaissance is here.”

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Courtesy NCAIED