Ada, Okla. - Fashion is a universal language and reaches across many cultures. As designers, students and fashion connoisseurs across the world celebrate World Fashion day Aug. 21, two young Chickasaw students take fashion a step further.
Fashion is embedded in the society of the Chickasaw Nation. For hundreds of years, Chickasaws have been designing their own regalia. Designs and materials have evolved over time and now Ryanne Jordan and Michaela Milligan use their passion for the art and their Chickasaw heritage for inspiration.
"Michaela brings her heritage in each one of her designs," said Chickasaw artist-in-residence Margaret Roach Wheeler. "During the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy, she used bear paws in her piece. In her Chickasaw heritage, the bear paws have a significant meaning to her and her family."
Both students began taking textile design classes at the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy. During each summer at the arts academy, students studied under the direction of Chickasaw artists. Textile artist Margaret Roach-Wheeler and Maya Stewart, luxury handbag designer, have become mentors to the students.
This year during the arts academy, students were asked to create a design using torn pieces of fabric; traditionally Native Americans would tear the fabric from rectangles to create clothing because scissors were not available. After learning about the history of torn fabrics, each student created a fresh and modern piece that could be used in an everyday look. Jordan created a vest which incorporated Seminole patchwork along the bottom, and Milligan used the historic capote coat for inspiration. With this in mind, Milligan gave the coat a modern twist and created a trench coat using Seminole patchwork to accent.
"Margaret and Maya are great teachers," said Ryanne Jordan. "I have learned how to sew my own clothes from Margaret and Maya, and I have learned how to pursue fashion as a career."
This summer, Jordan and Milligan attended a one-week precollege program for high school students at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Each student was asked to select a certain area of fashion to study in the program. Jordan selected to study fashion illustration and Milligan chose wire-wrapped jewelry design.
"Ryanne is very ahead of her time when it comes to fashion," said Stewart. "She knows designers, she reads fashion blogs, and after seeing her designs it is hard to believe she is 15."
The students were accompanied to New York by their mentors and instructors - Wheeler and Stewart. While in New York they had the chance to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Museum of the American Indian and the Costume Institute.
"Every single year the students seem more talented and their designs blow me away," said Maya Stewart.
Jordan is from Sherman, Texas and wants to pursue a career in fashion. She said she is inspired by other designers and fashion blogs. When designing, she likes to keep her style young and she designs for her age group.
Milligan from Ada, Okla., is interested in the art of fashion. Milligan does not like using straight lines in her designs. She said she is inspired by movement and tries to incorporate fluid movement when she can in each of the pieces she creates.
Art from the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy is now on display at the Chickasaw Nation Arts and Humanities gallery in Ada, Okla. The gallery also includes designs by both Ryanne Jordan and Michaela Milligan.
About the Chickasaw Nation
With more than 50,000 citizens, the Chickasaw Nation is the 12th largest federally-recognized Indian tribe in the United States. The Chickasaw Nation had an economic impact of more than $2.4 billion in Oklahoma in 2011. The tribe is the seventh largest employer in Oklahoma, with more than 10,000 employees in the state and more than 12,500 worldwide. A democratic republic with executive, legislative and judicial departments, the tribe's jurisdictional territory includes all or part of 13 countries in south center Oklahoma.
About the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy
The two-week academy offered by the Chickasaw Nation Division of Arts and Humanities, provides a unique opportunity for students, ages eight to 19, from all over the nation to gain valuable experience from highly qualified professional instructors in several disciplines including textile design, video production, dance and many more. Classes are offered on two levels, with six-discipline fine arts rotation for younger students and 11-discipline level II classes for advanced students.
