Ahead of Santa Fe Indian Market, we’re featuring the designers whose lines will be shown at the SWAIA Haute Couture Fashion Show. Here we spotlight Shy Natives.
Who: Jordan and Madison Craig (Northern Cheyenne), Shy Natives
Instagram: @shynatives
Web: shynatives.com (coming soon)
The line: Fun, layered, and sensual, Shy Natives is for anyone who wants to wear comfortable, beautiful lingerie.
The story: Founded by Northern Cheyenne sisters Madison and Jordan Craig in 2017, Shy Natives aims to empower individuals with their handmade lingerie, apparel, and inspiring imagery. Each piece is designed, patterned, and sewn by Madison, who taught herself how to sew bralettes and underwear after years of struggling with fit. Jordan, who has a background in studio art, manages the brand’s image, style, and feel. Currently, the sister duo are developing Shy Natives products and preparing to launch their business.
The designers say: “Shy Natives is not a standard indie lingerie brand. It is an ongoing art and social project. The sisters collaborate with Indigenous photographers, filmmakers, poets, models, artists, and musicians to create beautiful, meaningful content. Shy Natives aims to fight the oversexualization and stereotyping of Indigenous peoples. We are reclaiming our bodies and sensuality, and providing a safe and supportive platform for humans to express themselves however they like.”
Click on the image above to view the slideshow.
The new collection: “The theme of our collection is ‘Plant Mom.’ We have many plants around the apartment, all with names that match their features and personalities. Rex is little but tough with tentaclelike leaves; while Marge is leafy and full-bodied. It is comforting to nurture plants. They make us happy and provide us with clean air. They teach us to embrace the differences in life. We take care of our plants as they take care of us. We wanted to bring something personal, colorful, and different to our lingerie line. This Shy Natives collection breathes new life into our brand. We are bringing bold colors and fun patterns to our handmade apparel. Plant Mom is about learning, nurturing, growing, and thriving.”
Showing at the SWAIA Haute Couture Fashion Show: “The SWAIA fashion show is an incredible opportunity for us to push our brand and skills to create beautiful, cohesive looks for the runway. We specialize in lingerie, so creating a full collection is quite the challenge. We are creating looks with more than just undies and bralettes. At the moment, Madison Craig sews everything Shy Natives. She is the self-taught artist behind the sewing machines. She specializes in sewing undergarments, and now she is pushing her skills to create all sorts of garments for the runway. It’s an honor to participate in the SWAIA fashion show. It is an opportunity for Indigenous designers to create exciting and original designs.”
For more information on the SWAIA Haute Couture Fashion Show, visit the event’s website.
Photography: Courtesy SHY NATIVES