Meet The 2025 Designers

I’m a Kumeyaay artist from San Pasqual, born and raised in San Diego. I am creating sustainable designs that celebrate California Native culture through my fashion lines "Abalone and Sage" and "Worn & Reborn", a reconstructed fashion concept which allows for unique, individual  pieces, giving garments a second life. My work has won contests, appeared in magazines, and honors tradition through teaching and storytelling. I have been providing art to my tribe and surrounding tribes for the past 10 years. Creating PEON event fliers, t-shirt art, logos, facepainting, window art, teaching bird skirt classes. 

James Star Comes Out is an enrolled Oglala Lakota (Pine Ridge Reservation, SD). A self-taught artist, James developed many art forms such as beadwork, quillwork, painting, drawing and traditional dance regalia. James received an A.A degree in Art Education at Black Hills State University (1999) as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology at Oglala Lakota College (2014) As an artist and designer, James is grounded by foundations of Lakota culture such as language, history, art and stories that stimulate his creativity with ideas and inspiration to create his work. James has achieved success in many art competitions and juried art shows; many of James’ work have been acquired by museums and private collectors. Collectively, James utilizes art and customs to share, teach and pass on aspects of Lakota life ways and culture. As well as empowering female relatives and creating positive space through native fashion.

Katrina and Star Her Many Horses, Co-Founders of OYATE, are proud Oglala Lakota, Cheyenne, Taos Pueblo, Meskwaki, and Leech Lake Ojibwe women. Raised in Denver, Colorado, they grew up in a family of creatives who nurtured their passion for art and inspired them to explore various artistic expressions.

Katrina earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Haskell Indian Nations University in 2024, while Star is set to graduate in the spring of 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in American Indian Studies.

Founded as a family-owned business, OYATE is dedicated to producing authentic Indigenous creations and original artwork. In the Lakota language, Oyate means “The People” or “Nation,” reflecting the company’s mission to serve as a platform for Indigenous artists to showcase and sell their work while honoring their cultural heritage.

Fawn is Anishnaabe Kwe from the Mize clan registered under Ginoogaming First Nation and

is residing in Thunder Bay. Fawn is a rising artist within the indigenous population of

woodland artwork. She works full time as a creating artist and an entrepreneur to her own

business. She prides herself by utilizing the Anishnaabe Woodland florals in her creations.

Fawn dreams of keeping the Anishnaabe florals alive by teaching how to design and sew

throughout the northern communities of Ontario while also learning from the elders in the

surrounding areas. She has been inspired by the woman closest to her and other

Anishnaabe artists within the Ojibwe lands and territories. When Fawn isn't travelling you

will find Fawn in her sewing room. Sewing late into the night creating through her dreams

and visions.

Justine is a registered member of Whitesand First Nation. She was born and raised in

Thunder Bay, Ontario. She is Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and her cultural background has been

the foundation of her creativity. She works as a full time artist and is exceptionally skilled in

the area of bead artistry. She is well known for her work which incorporates the floral

traditions of her tribe. She enjoys creating both contemporary and traditional styles of

beadwork. She has been creating custom beadwork for powwow dancers across Canada

and United States for approximately 12 years. In addition to the beadwork, Justine enjoys

the challenge of learning new artforms and has a passion for creating custom culturally

inspired clothing/ garments. She is also a recipient of numerous Ontario Arts Council Grantsthat has supported various independent arts projects. Her art is what keeps her connected

Homeland is a living archive of Indigenous expression based out of Phoenix, AZ and the Navajo Nation— blending art, fashion, culture and community to create for the present while building a legacy for the future.

Alice Phelps and Ashley Garcia are a mother and daughter duo. They are Oglala Lakota and enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. They reside in Porcupine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 

Alice and her husband Ted Phelps have five beautiful children and eight grand children. Ashely and her husband Bino Garcia also have five beautiful children. They are a family who enjoy sewing, beading, and traveling to powwows together where they partake in singing and dancing. They are also active in their spiritual way of life and believe prayer and Tunkasila are what make everything and anything possible! 

Sapé Mah “Woman who sews” She is a citizen of the Navajo Nation from Preston Mesa, Arizona and resides in Fruitland, New Mexico. Her clans are Honeycomb Rock Edgewater and born Kiowa and Comanche.

Benjamin Leedom, an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, Navy veteran and father of two, established himself as a premier star quilt maker over time by combining his eye for detail, color and patterns, along with modern styles and customizations. He has recently taken his sewing skills into the world of fashion and is making that break at this years Sycuan fashion show. His work is owned and appreciated by athletes, musicians, and world leaders.It is also featured in several Native American resorts and casinos. Over the 10 years of being 3 Feathers, LLC, Leedom has built his support and following through social media and is respected in the Native American community. He has love and admiration for his people and the struggles the community sees on a daily basis. He is hungry for change and to make a difference to ensure longevity and resilience for Native American culture.

​As a Native woman hailing from Klamath, CA, my journey into the world of wearable art and fashion feels like a dream come true. I'm immensely grateful for the opportunity to pursue my passion each day.

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My artistic journey began under the loving guidance of my mother, a seasoned Native jewelry maker. It was during a challenging time when she was undergoing surgeries in the Bay Area that I found solace in beadwork. My mother handed me beads to pass the time, and little did I know, those moments would spark the beginning of my creative adventure.

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Starting with a few pairs of earrings crafted during those hospital visits, I stumbled into my calling. Encouragement from a coworker led me to expand my creations, and before I knew it, I was fully immersed in the world of jewelry making. With the guidance of a Yurok elder fluent in the language, I chose the name Nar Rew Ekar, meaning my beautiful beads, for my creations.

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Growing up within my tribal community immersed me in Yurok traditions, particularly the art of regalia creation. This deep connection to ceremonial attire ignited a passion within me to bring Indigenous fashion to the forefront. I ventured into the realm of fashion, driven by a desire to merge traditional Indigenous elements with contemporary design. It's about crafting something entirely new, it's neither strictly ceremonial nor purely contemporary. Rather, it's intended to be worn as an adornment, infused with the same energy, purpose, intent, and meticulous process as ceremonial items and what's truly fulfilling is that I have the freedom to pour my heart and spirit into it.

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My designs have since graced the pages of magazines and the red carpet, worn by esteemed figures like Tantoo Cardinal and Tori McConnell. As I continue to grow as an artist, my mission remains rooted in honoring and celebrating Indigenous culture through innovative fashion

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Angelica LaBrake and Jadeane LaBrake are two cousins who have come together to create Paipa. They are both members of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and come from the Paipa clan. They value learning their customs and traditions to feel more connected to their ancestors and themselves, and to hopefully keep their traditions alive by passing them on to younger generations. 

Angelica LaBrake is the founder and director of the Sycuan Fashion show, and is also an artist who has done paintings for several events in her community. Jadeane LaBrake has been a model for two of the past shows and a designer for the 2023 show, and also studied interior design in college. They both have turned this artistic creativity into sewing, among other things! They started sewing to create their own regalia’s and later found the passion to create garments they could wear to events and every day life, modern clothing with a Kumeyaay twist. To them, creating garments that make native women feel beautiful is so fulfilling, and the memories and strong bond that is formed while sewing is most important! They will always advocate that we are beautiful, we are talented, and we are still here. 

House of Birds was created from a deep-rooted need to reclaim identity, dignity, and space for Native people. It began as a reflection on the ways our communities have been historically excluded-from education, leadership, sports, and cultural visibility. We were told we were not qualified. We were told we did not belong. But our ancestors, wise beyond erasure, never needed validation.

The brand emerged as a response to that silence-a refusal to be overlooked. House of Birds represents the protectors of the nest: the caretakers, the warriors, the visionaries who carry our people forward. Every design is built on the strength of survival and the beauty of our traditions, honoring those who came before us and those who continue to rise.

It is not just about what we wear, but a commitment to protect those we rise to defend. House of Birds exists to uplift, protect, and empower Indigenous identity through intentional design and storytelling.