London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

Community-And Style-Thrived at the Santa Fe Indian Market

Community-And Style-Thrived at the Santa Fe Indian Market

This weekend, Indigenous artists showcased their new works at the annual outdoor market, now in its 99th year.

Every year, the Santa Fe Indian Market brings in thousands of global tourists and collectors to the city. Visitors flock to the streets around the city’s main plaza, where hundreds of Indigenous artists from different tribes across North America showcase and sell their new works (including textiles, jewelry, art, and more) in their respective booths. This weekend, the 99th annual outdoor market returned once again, and the sense of community was as present as ever. While overall attendance was down (the typically free event was ticketed this year due to COVID) and the number of artists showcasing was fewer than usual, you could still feel the energy and excitement around the event. The streets were still lined with excited shoppers perusing the latest goods, and booths were filled with artists visiting each other and having a laughขmasks up, of course.



Indian Market weekend is a big tourism event for the city, but the occasion represents something much more important for the participating artists and artisans. Business aside, it’s a time for the Native American community to come back together, visit with friends and family, and get inspired by each other’s creativity. And this year, after a canceled 2020 event and a long time apart due to COVID-19, that spirit of connection was needed more than ever. “There is nothing like interacting with fellow creatives in person,” says Jamie Okuma, a Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock fashion artist who showcased her new collection at the market’s fashion show this weekend. “Meeting collectors and enjoying being in the presence of other humans outside of family was something I really didn’t realize I needed. As an artist, I’m naturally isolated by profession, so the few shows I do in person are extremely important for my mental health. When those were gone, it was pretty rough.”



Beaded jewelry and a Lauren Good Day skirt at the Santa Fe Indian Market



A vibrant ribbon skirt and dentalium earrings at the Santa Fe Indian Market

Last year, the Santa Fe Indian Market was held virtually, and for many artists, that meant a considerable loss of income. Sales at the fair make up a significant portion of their yearly incomes, as a single piece can go for thousands of dollars. For all these reasons, the Indigenous artists were counting on the continuation of this year’s event. “There was a lot of trepidation leading up to it, with the delta variant looming overhead and the state of New Mexico’s mandates ever changing,” says Pat Pruitt, a Laguna, Chiricahua Apache, and Anglo metalsmith and jewelry designer. “But it was good to see friends, family, and collectors.”

Though there were fewer visitors, many artists still did surprisingly well in sales; it seems shoppers were ready to spend. For instance, Naiomi Glasses-a Diné textile artist and first-time shower at the market-says she got many future rug orders from the event and looks forward to returning next year for its centennial year. “As a working artist, the market is important so that I could meet new and current customers in person. It gives them and me a personable connection,” says Glasses.



Statement turquoise jewelry at the Santa Fe Indian Market



Along with a clear sense of togetherness, there was also major style present throughout the weekend—whether it was worn by visitors or artists on the streets or shown on the runway for the market’s annual fashion show, which was organized by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe.

Around the booths, visitors and artists alike dressed up for the affair, cladding themselves in their best ribbon skirts or turquoise squash-blossom necklaces. At the fashion show, Indigenous designers Jamie Okuma, Orlando Dugi, Pamela Baker, and Lauren Good Day showcased their newest collections, pieces that combined traditional craftsmanship with new, modern updates. Dugi and Baker showed refined eveningwear pieces like beaded gowns and velvet suiting, while Okuma opted for her signature statement prints on dresses, coats, and more. Good Day even showed sprightly athleticwear—the through line being that Native design doesn’t have to look one specific way. For all in attendance, that sense of innovation is forever an Indian Market staple. “The energy was palpable,” says Pruitt. “Spirits were high, and in the end, the machine that is Indian Market just keeps on going.”

Below, more stylish highlights from the Santa Fe Indian Market weekend.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×