Meet the Native American artist whose hand-beaded skate shoes have become a sensation:
’s first foray into fashion came four years ago, when she made a last-minute decision to attend the annual Gathering of Nations in Albuquerque, a pan-tribal festival also known as “North America’s largest powwow.”
“Everyone gets all dressed up in their traditional regalia,” says Holy Bear, a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Sioux Tribe who is known for her intricate beadwork. “I hadn’t had any time to prepare outfits for us but I wanted my 4-year-old son Justus to look really cool. He had a new pair of slip-on Vans and I suddenly had an idea, looking at the checkerboard design.
“Those Vans really reminded me of traditional moccasins,” says Holy Bear. “Once they were beaded they had this sort of urban Indian vibe so I braided my son’s hair, put on those shoes and he was the coolest little guy at the powwow. People were stopping us to take photos, he made such a splash.” Not long afterward one of those photos made its way onto Pinterest and caught the eye of Amanda Miller, the communications director at PayPal.
Inspired by powwow regalia, Holy Bear has spent the last few years working on neo-traditional pendants and earrings depicting florals and animals like hummingbirds and swallows made from antique Venetian seed beads. “I love working on the shoes though because it gives me such creative freedom,” she says. “I’m really into florals right now and I’ve been working on some new designs for the Vans.
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