Indigenous Fashion Takes Center Stage at Inaugural Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week

By Darren Thompson

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The inaugural Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week made its grand debut in March, drawing thousands of attendees and showcasing Indigenous fashion as a highlight of its opening celebrations.

The week-long event attracted art collectors and fine artists from around the world to the Arizona desert. Phoenix Fashion Week curated the fashion exposition, featuring award-winning Indigenous designers Loren Aragon of Towering Stone Designs and Norma Flyinghorse of Red Berry Woman, who presented their original collections.

“I was so proud and honored to be a part of the first annual Ferrari Scottsdale Art Week,” Flyinghorse told Fry Bread in a recent interview. “I have always been an advocate for the arts and its power to educate and celebrate all people. Ferrari and Phoenix Fashion Week did an impeccable job of sharing so much culture, diversity, and above all talent that the art world has to offer.”

Both Flyinghorse and Aragon are previous Phoenix Fashion Week “Designers of the Year” and regular participants in the organization’s events. While the festival featured dozens of fine artists from around the globe, organizers emphasized Indigenous expression as a key curatorial focus.

“Opening night at the VIP gala, their collections were met with overwhelming admiration—guests were captivated by the authenticity, heritage, and modern elegance they brought to the runway,” Brian Hill, executive direcor of Phoenix Fashion Week told Fry Bread. “It was a proud moment of elevation and representation that set the tone for the entire experience.”

Afro-Indigenous fashion designer Samara Tobeck of Afro Amazonia Wear, who also works as a commercial model, praised the presentations. “It was wonderful to witness Norma’s designs being transformed and elevated into couture pieces,” Tobeck said in an interview with Fry Bread. “The intricacy of her beadwork and attention to detail truly impressed me. Additionally, she shared her personal journey, which resonated with her creations. It was a lovely representation of her narrative woven into her designs.”

The event received sponsorship from several organizations, including the Gila River Indian Community. Governor Stephen Roe Lewis addressed the opening crowd, using the platform to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, specifically mentioning the recent case of 14-year-old Emily Pike from the San Carlos Apache community.

Amber-Dawn Bear Robe, curator and producer for Native Fashion Week Santa Fe, delivered a presentation on Indigenous fashion and its future trajectory. For the past decade, Bear Robe has produced fashion shows featuring Indigenous designers from the United States and Canada for the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), which produces the annual Santa Fe Indian Market.

“My goal is to put Santa Fe on the map as a leading fashion capital within the fashion week world, like Milan, France, New York,” Bear Robe stated during her March 21 presentation. “We have Indigenous designers who are leading forces in the field of fashion in general.”

Native Fashion Week Santa Fe launched May 8 at The Railyard in Santa Fe, running in conjunction with SWAIA’s Indigenous Fashion Week, which Bear Robe established last year. The four-day event will showcase 30 Indigenous fashion designers from the U.S. and Canada, with confirmed attendance from international media outlets including Forbes Magazine, Vogue Magazine, and Indigenous TV. Steven Kolb, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA), is also expected to attend.

This article has been updated with the latest information regarding Native Fashion Week Santa Fe.