fashion Archives - Tulalip News

Edgy, urban fashion in Marysville

Georgina Medina, owner of Zurban Wear. Photo/Kim Kalliber — Georgina Medina, owner of Zurban Wear.
Photo/Kim Kalliber

by Kim Kalliber, Tulalip News

Bright colors and bold statements from a bright and bold woman.

Tulalip tribal member Georgina Medina recently opened Zurban Wear, a hip, urban clothing retail store in north Marysville. Boasting a laid-back vibe with racks of layer-friendly tanks, billowing tunics, trendsetting leggings, and bold t-shirts, fashion forward men and women have a new alternative to the mall, that offers prices competitive with the outlet stores.

Having an interest in fashion since she was young, opening a trendy clothing store was a natural choice for Medina. And opening a retail business is no easy feat. It takes persistence and skill. Seeking out the latest fashions and working with suppliers to build stock, finding a location, setting up shop and spreading the word are just some of the obstacles Medina has tackled.

“Last year I had been thinking of coming up with a clothing brand, but I looked into it and it is a lot of work. Finding someone to make your product, and get it out there, and then money-wise it is a lot,” explained Medina. “ But I wanted to do something with clothes, so then I came up with the clothing store. I fumbled around for a little bit, and then I came up with the name and it just went from there.”

Medina went on to describe the inspiration for the name Zurban Wear. “I went through all these names, trying to come up with the perfect one, something that would fit me and the clothing. I have a son named Zion, he’s my oldest child, so I took the first letter of his name and added urban. The clothing that we’re bringing is urban and up-to-date.”

Urban Wear features trend setting fashions by Filthy Dripped, Diamond, DFYNT and more.

With brands like Filthy Dripped, Diamond and more, offering cutting-edge clothing and accessories for men and women, Zurban Wear is an ideal place to shop for younger crowds and great for back to school gear.

“Our most popular sellers are our t-shirts, for the men,” said Medina. “For the girls it’s tank tops, crop tops and we also have flowy tops and leggings.”

“The response has been great. It’s really new, and everywhere I go someone’s talking about it. I’ve been having fun sales and things to draw people in, and I hope people just stop in to say hi.”

And this is not just a story of a small business owner; it’s a story of the strength and determination of overcoming addiction.

“I am a recovering addict,” said Medina. “I went through my piece of addiction, where I had nothing. I want all the people out there who are struggling with addiction, or are in recovery, to know that there is hope and you can change.”

If you’re itching to add some more flair to your look, check out this affordable boutique for trendy, stylish pieces that won’t break your budget.

Zurban Wear is located at 9920 State Ave, Suite I, Marysville WA 98270. (Behind La Hacienda restaurant, across from Fred Myers.) Also like Zurban Wear on Facebook @ Zurban Wear.

It’s Here! A Guide to 2013 Santa Fe Indian Market by Alex Jacobs

By Alex Jacobs, Indian Country Today Media Network

What’s cool this year at Santa Fe’s 92nd Indian Market? Everything! Most of what’s cool is under the hot tents of over 1000 Native Artists who Occupy The Plaza for this weekend’s festivities. But you can cruise, walk, bike, skate, run, take a bus and drive to other events around Santa Fe.

Over the last few years, now that the Institute of American Indian Arts and its downtown MoCNA is partnering with SWAIA, this area one block east of the main Market on the Plaza, between the Museum and Cathedral Park, has seen some very cool events occur. Live hawks and raptors, poets, films, fashion displays, skateboarders, hip hop DJs and graffiti artists, live paintings. Last year it was all the young dudes and their skateboards. This year the old dogs howl at the moon as a 10×20 tent inside Cathedral Park will house a guerilla installation by two known art perpetrators who collaborate as “Joe-Bob”.

Over the last few years due to very tight space (and a tight economy), which creates politics between SWAIA and the City, it seems to me that a back-and-forth has occurred between Old Generation and New Generation artists, with one side winning a concession only to be balanced by the other side the next year. I am happy to say that the new SWAIA crew has inherited a calm structure, mostly happy artists, a city that has learned how to deal with most issues, and an economy that is slowly turning around one year after an election.

Check out the new SWAIA T-Shirt, a very cool modern design by Ehren Kee Natay.

POEH Cultural Center & Museum at Pojoaque Pueblo has a Patricia Michaels opening, a Live Draw Session by Rose B. Simpson, The Continuous Path exhibit at Poeh by clay artist Roxanne Swentzell and murals by Marcellus Medina, plus weekly art & craft sales and classes.

From Monday through Wednesday, Metis Artist Dylan Miner, well known for his custom Native-themed bicycles, held a three-day workshop for kids aged 13-17 at POEH titled “Native Kids Ride Bikes – Anishnaabensag Biimskowebshigewag,” and produced hand-made/assembled bicycles by and for Native kids that will be seen at SFAI and at select museums and galleries around town.

Museum of Contemporary Native Art features several exhibits: STEREOTYPE – Misconceptions of the Native American: works by Cannupa Hanska Luger, a performance artist of mixed Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota heritage, this consists of actual “stereo” ceramic beat-boxes adorned with the usual mis-appropriated, re-appropriated, misused, overused, mis-labelled Indian symbols, icons, cliches and absurdities. CHANGING HANDS 3: Art Without Reservations – Art from Northeast and Southeast Native Artists touring in an exhibit from the Museum of Art & Design NYC; and the new Paul Frank Native Designs.

IAIA Student Art Work at Warehouse 21, Fri. Aug 16. Patricia Michaels in Studio at Legends Santa Fe, Aug 14 & 16, with opening reception Sat. Aug 17. During the week at MIAC on Museum Hill, Walter Echo Hawk, Suzan Shown Harjo, Native Women Ledger Artists, Native Cinema, and all weekend the Southern Red Drum Group.

Free music on the Plaza Bandstand Wed. Aug 14 with Indigie Femme and Robert Mirabal. Native Bands play around town all week, but typical Santa Fe — we’ve lost a few clubs and gained none, so it’ll probably the usual suspects at Evangelo’s, El Farol, El Paseo, for sure Gary Farmer & The Troublemakers and The Mud Ponies will play at THE COWGIRL during Market. Native Peoples Magazine & Indian Market Launch Party at the Hilton Hotel downtown, with DJs, music, dancing, friends, food and drinks, Thursday.

Will Wilson, Dine photographer will again set up his portrait studio and CPIX project in the East Sculpture Garden of NM Museum of Art on Palace Ave, Aug 17-18. SWAIA will have their photo booth Sunday in Cathedral Park.

NATIVE VANGUARD – Contemporary Masters, George Morrison, Bunky Echo Hawk, Edgar Heap of Birds, M. Scott Momaday, opening reception at Zane Bennett Gallery in the Railyard District, Thursday 15 from 5-7pm and before on Wednesday 14 at Zane Bennett there will be panel discussions with MoCNA director Patsy Phillips leading talks on “Breaking Thru The Buckskin Curtain” with Anita Fields and Roxanne Swentzell from 1-3pm, then “Master of Contemporary Film” with Frank Buffalo Hyde, Jill Momaday and Norman Patrick Brown 3-5pm.

MY LAND! at Winterowd Fine Art Gallery on Canyon Rd, a dozen heavy Native artists have an intimate meet & greet, poetry & talks on Thursday 1-3, then party at the reception on Friday 6-8; also a reception for the San Felipe Seven potters Thursday 5pm at LaFonda; other openings at Blue Rain, Chiaroscuro, Steve Elmore Indian Art, Shiprock Gallery and so many more.

Saturday of Market will be happening with a new SWAIA Hip Hop Fashion Show; support the Patricia Michaels in New York Fund Raising event at The Palace Restaurant from 6-10pm; ZOMBIE NIGHT in the Railyard, Saturday night, The Dead Can’t Dance, as part of NATIVE CINEMA SHOWCASE.

Too much party? Get healthy with the Wings of America 5K fun run/walk at Santa Fe Indian School, Sun Aug 18, 8/9am starts. Or relax inside where’s its cool and dark, Santa Fe resident George RR Martin bought the old Jean Cocteau Theatre in the Railyard, it’s all made new and ready to watch classic movies. Finally, stop by my booth as everyone passes by here on the corner of San Francisco St (#321 FR-S) and Old Santa Fe Trail right in front of the LaFonda Hotel.

Alex Jacobs, Mohawk, is a visual artist and poet living in Santa Fe.

Hats Off to This Navajo, ASU Student Who Designs Customized Street Wear

By Lynn Armitage, Indian Country Today Media Network

Name: Cameron Benally, 19

Title: Creator and Owner of Profound Product

Product: Customized baseball caps and T-shirts

How long in business: Since August 2012

Advice for other business owners: “If you can think of it, I’m sure there is a way to do it. Once you can figure out the steps involved, then you can figure out how to finish the product and start up a business.”

Cameron Benally sporting his most popular t-shirt: the Navajo-run-print pocket. (Courtesy Cameron Benally)

Last August, Cameron Benally, a Navajo native from Mesa, Arizona, became inspired by a moment of sheer boredom. The 19-year-old sophomore at Arizona State University had nothing to do one hot summer day, so he grabbed some scissors, fabric and a hat, and stitched together a business.

“I started seeing people wearing more and more of these hats with prints on the brim, so I figured out how to do it and kind of perfected the method,” explains Benally, the founder of Profound Product, a one-man street-wear operation that jazzes up hat brims and makes T-shirt pockets from an assortment of eye-catching fabrics, like tribal and animal prints.

Since that serendipitous day more than a year ago, Benally is filling orders for about eight custom hats and T-shirts a week that he sells online through social media sites, such as Facebook and Instagram (@ProfoundProduct), as well as through word-of-mouth. Hats range in price from copy0 to $60, and Benally charges a flat copy8 for his T-shirts. His best seller is the black t-shirt with the Navajo rug print.

His roster of clients spans the globe—from California to New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and even as far away as France. “I’m also starting to get orders from the Navajo reservation, so that’s pretty cool.”

The real beauty of Benally’s start-up business is that he didn’t have to invest much money at all. “The original investment was very small. …and now I’m making a pretty good amount.” Benally would not disclose specific numbers, but he did say that profits go back into the business and help supplement scholarships he’s been awarded toward a degree in digital culture and media processing.

Cameron Benally redisgns his school ASU’s hats and t-shirts. (Courtesy Benally)

The young entrepreneur likes to sew, he says, because it’s relaxing. He first learned how to run a sewing machine when he was in middle school, but then forgot how to use it. “So my grandmother taught me how to sew again.”

In fact, Benally’s entire family is very supportive of his dreams and goals. “My dad really helped me out because he wants me to succeed.” His father, Dino Benally, actually started a sportswear store on the Navajo reservation many years ago, but the business didn’t pan out. “He’s happy seeing me doing what he wanted to do and be able to go farther with it.”

While Benally is proud of what he has achieved in only one year—“I really didn’t think it would go this far”—he has even bigger dreams. “I hope it becomes a really big clothing brand someday. I’d love to see my stuff being sold in stores across the country.”

Paul Frank To Unveil Fashion Collaboration with Native American Designers during Santa Fe Indian Market Week

The highly anticipated “Paul Frank Presents” Limited Edition collection will be revealed this week during a special event at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts

Source: Paul Frank

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Paul Frank, in partnership with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA), is pleased to announce the debut of its first ever collaboration with four Native American designers during Santa Fe Indian Market this week. The fashion collection will be showcased during a panel and event held at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Friday, August 16 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The “Paul Frank Presents” collection will also be available for purchase at the IAIA MoCNA store.

To kick off the event, MoCNA Director Patsy Phillips will introduce a panel entitled, Beyond the “Tribal Trend”: Developing Proactive Native American Collaboration in Fashion. The panel will feature Jessica Metcalfe of the Beyond Buckskin blog and Beyond Buckskin Boutique, Adrienne Keene of Native Appropriations and Tracy Bunkoczy, Paul Frank’s VP of Design as they discuss the brand collaboration, the background story and creation of the collection and the development of proactive Native partnerships in the fashion world.

After the panel, each of the designers will present their products and talk about their personal inspiration for the collaboration. These Native American designers include Louie Gong of Eighth Generation, Autumn Dawn Gomez of The Soft Museum, Candace Halcro of Brownbeaded, and Dustin Martin of S.O.L.O. The “Paul Frank Presents” fashion collection includes a printed tote, pillow and throw blanket by Louie Gong, five collections of Hama bead jewelry by Autumn Dawn Gomez, authentic Paul Frank hand-beaded sunglasses by Candace Halcro and a variety of tees, tanks and bandanas by Dustin Martin.

“This collaboration has been an opportunity for us to help raise awareness about cultural misappropriations, which unfortunately happen too often in product, promotion and fashion,” said Elie Dekel, President of Saban Brands. “Our partnership with these four talented Native American designers was the direct result of our own awakening to this issue from our Paul Frank Fashion’s Night Out event back in September of 2012. We hope this ‘Paul Frank Presents’ collaboration will demonstrate more appropriate ways to engage and celebrate the Native American communities.”

These products are now available for purchase at the IAIA MoCNA store, the websites of the contributing designers and also on shop.beyondbuckskin.com. For additional information about this collection, please visit www.paulfrank.com.

About Paul Frank

Acquired in 2010 by Saban Brands, Paul Frank began in 1997 as an independent accessories company in a Southern California beach town. The brand has steadily grown to become a globally recognized, iconic brand that features artistic and entertaining designs inspired by a love of avant-garde, modern influences and everyday objects. By creating relationships through exciting collaborations and strategic licensing partnerships, Paul Frank merchandise includes apparel and accessories for all ages, books, stationery, eyewear, home decor, bicycles and more. To see what’s new and exciting at Paul Frank, visit www.paulfrank.com.

About Saban Brands

Formed in 2010 as an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands (SB) was established to acquire and develop a world-class portfolio of properties and capitalize on the company’s experience, track record and capabilities in growing and monetizing consumer brands through content, media and marketing. SB applies a global omni-channel management approach to enhancing and extending its brands in markets worldwide and to consumers of all ages. The company provides full-service management, marketing, promotion and strategic business development for its intellectual properties including comprehensive strategies unique to each brand, trademark and copyright management and enforcement, creative design, retail development, direct-to-consumer initiatives and specialized property extensions. SB is led by a superior management team with decades of experience in media, content creation, branding, licensing, marketing and finance. SB’s portfolio of properties currently includes Power Rangers, Paul Frank, Vortexx, Zui.com, The Playforge, Julius Jr., Digimon Fusion and Popples. For more information, visit www.sabanbrands.com.

About the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts

The mission of the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA), a center of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), is to advance contemporary native art through exhibitions, collections, public programs and scholarship. MoCNA’s outreach through local and national collaborations allows us to continue to present the most progressive Native art and public programming. MoCNA’s exhibitions and programs continue the narrative of contemporary Native arts and cultures. MoCNA is located at 108 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87501. For more information please contact: (505) 983-1666 or visit www.iaia.edu/museum. For the MoCNA store, please call (888) 922-4242 or email shop@iaia.edu.

About IAIA

For 50 years, the Institute of American Indian Arts has played a leading role in the direction and shape of Native expression. As it has grown and evolved into an internationally acclaimed college, museum and community and tribal support resource through the Center for Lifelong Education, IAIA’s dedication to the study and advancement of Native arts and cultures is matched only by its commitment to student achievement and the preservation and progress of the communities they represent. Learn more about our achievements and mission at www.iaia.edu.