Press Release
SWAIA Native Fashion Week Returns
with New Curated Format for 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE— February 26, 2026; Santa Fe, New Mexico: The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) announces the return of SWAIA Native Fashion Week, taking place May 8–9, 2026, at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The 2026 program introduces a refined, curated format designed to deepen engagement, strengthen designer visibility, and create a more intimate, storytelling-driven experience for guests.
Participating designers include Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo), Himikalas Pamela Baker (Squamish/Kwakiutl/Tlingit/Haida), Lauren Good Day (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara Nation), Jamie Okuma (Luiseño/Wailaki/Okinawan/Shoshone-Bannock), and Jontay Kahm (Plains Cree). Peshawn Bread (Comanche/Kiowa/Cherokee) will return as the event’s producer in partnership with SWAIA.
Patricia Michaels Group Shot by Darklisted Photography. Image Courtesy of SWAIA.
“This year’s format allows us to focus on depth over scale,” said SWAIA Executive Director Jamie Schulze. “By bringing the program into a single venue, we are creating higher-impact moments, stronger connections between designers and audiences, and new opportunities to integrate hospitality, culinary storytelling, and fashion into one cohesive experience.”
Hosted at the Eldorado Hotel & Spa, the weekend will integrate Heritage Hotels and Resorts’ venue, hospitality, and culinary assets to create a destination experience centered on Native design and storytelling.
Event Schedule
Friday, May 8, Native Creatives Market, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Anasazi Ballroom (Free and open to the public)
Friday, May 8, Press & Designer Reception, 6–8 p.m., Cava and the Chapel (Invitation Only)
Saturday, May 9, Native Creatives Market, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Anasazi Ballroom (Free and open to the public)
Saturday, May 9, A Taste of Native Fashion Gala, 6–8:30 p.m., Grand Ballroom (Ticketed)
Friday and Saturday’s Native Creatives Market offers a trunk show atmosphere focused on ready-to-wear Native fashion and accessories. The weekend culminates in A Taste of Native Fashion Gala, a seated culinary and fashion experience showcasing participating designers’ collections in an intimate, immersive setting. The evening will also feature a silent auction.
Tickets and additional event information are available at https://onecau.se/_fmzf91.
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Audrey N. Rubinstein
505-490-5029 | audrey@themettaagency.com
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ABOUT SWAIA:
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) cultivates excellence and innovation across traditional and non-traditional art forms, developing programs and events that support, promote, and honor Native artists year-round. SWAIA creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market ™, the largest and most prestigious Native art market in the world, Native Fashion Week, and Winter Indian Market. www.swaia.org
