Loren Aragon is a Native American fashion designer from

Acoma Pueblo Acoma Pueblo ( , ) is a Native American pueblo approximately west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. Four communities make up the village of Acoma Pueblo: Sky City (Old Acoma), Acomita, Anzac, and McCartys. These communities ...

whose work is inspired by Acoma pottery and culture. His ACONAV couture brand is known for its asymmetrical designs, patterns and materials such as silk and leather that blend cultural ideas with modern silhouettes.

Education

In 1998, Aragon moved to Arizona to attend

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the university is o ...

; in 2004 he received a BSE degree in mechanical engineering. While working as an engineer in Phoenix, he taught himself garment construction and fashion design by deconstructing and reverse-engineering dresses. He worked as an engineer for 13 years before becoming a fashion designer.

Work

Aragon grew up observing his mother and aunt create traditional Acoma garments. He began making jewelry, but later, after researching traditional Pueblo designs at the

School for Advanced Research The School for Advanced Research (SAR), until 2007 known as the School of American Research and founded in 1907 as the School for American Archaeology (SAA), is an advanced research center located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. Since 1 ...

in Santa Fe, decided to pursue a career in fabric and fashion design. His garments often incorporate traditional Pueblo elements such as red sashes,

manta Manta or mantas may refer to: * Manta ray, large fish belonging to the genus ''Mobula'' Arts and entertainment App & Website * Manta (platform), a Korean digital comics provider Fictional entities * Manta (comics), a character in American Marve ...

, and single-shouldered black sash dresses worn at

coming of age Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can b ...

cultural events when girls are elevated to womenhood. Aragon's first full collection of 20 pieces premiered in December 2014. He cites Virgil Ortiz and

Alexander McQueen Lee Alexander McQueen (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was a British fashion designer and couturier. He founded his own Alexander McQueen (brand), Alexander McQueen label in 1992 and was chief designer at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001. His ac ...

as his creative influences. In addition to the runway Aragon has exhibited his fashion designs in art venues including the

National Museum of the American Indian The National Museum of the American Indian is a museum in the United States devoted to the culture of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution group of museums and research centers. The museum has three ...

Poeh Museum The Poeh Museum (Tewa ''poeh'', "pathway") is a museum in Pojoaque, New Mexico, U.S.A. The museum is located off U.S. Route 84. It is devoted to the arts and culture of the Puebloan peoples, especially the Tewas in the northern part of the sta ...

Pojoaque Pueblo Pojoaque (; Tewa: Pʼohsųwæ̨geh Ówîngeh/P'osuwaege Owingeh ’òhsũ̀wæ̃̀gè ʔówîŋgè, Po’su wae geh, which translates to “water gathering place”, is a unincorporated community in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States. It ...

, the

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is a museum of Native American art and culture located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is one of eight museums in the state operated by the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and is accredited by the Ame ...

, the Phoenix Indian Center, Epcot Center, and other venues.

Personal life

His wife, Valentina, is

Diné The Navajo or Diné are an Native Americans in the United States, Indigenous people of the Southwestern United States. Their traditional language is Navajo language, Diné bizaad, a Southern Athabascan language. The states with the largest Din ...

and is the business partner and operations manager of ACONAV.

Honors and awards

* 2012,

Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian is a museum devoted to Native American arts. It is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and was founded in 1937 by Mary Cabot Wheelwright, who came from Boston, and Hastiin Klah, a Navajo singer and medi ...

* 2017, Native American Artist Fellowship, Ronald and Susan Dubin Fellowship * 2018, Couture Designer of the Year, Phoenix Fashion Week

Collections

Aragon's work is in the permanent collection of the School for Advanced Research, Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Museum of Indian Arts + Culture.

References

Sources

* Holmes, Kelly.
Loren Aragon: Five Years Later
', Native Max Magazine, Art and Fashion Issue, September/October 2020 * Lengel, Kerry.
Meet the Native designer who dressed Arizona’s only Tony Awards voter for the red carpet
', AZ Central, May 30, 2019 *
Check out Loren Aragon’s Artwork
', Voyage Phoenix, February 12, 2019 *
ACONAV Founder Loren Aragon on Building a Couture Fashion Brand and Designing for Disney
', Native Business Magazine, July 1, 2018 * Rivas, Kyla.
Native American couture designer, Loren Aragon, commissioned to design gown for Walt Disney World
', Navajo-Hopi Observer, May 24, 2018 *
Native fashion designer Loren Aragon’s ACONAV receives Arizona Apparel Foundation scholarship
', Tribal Business News, January 23, 2020 * Field, Kimberly.
Best of the West: Fashion Visionaries - Loren and Valentina Aragon
', Cowboys and Indians Magazine

External links

Official website

Interview with Loren and Valentina Aragon on PBS

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Meet the Artist: Loren Aragon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragon, Loren Artists from New Mexico American fashion designers People from Acoma Pueblo 21st-century Native American artists Artists from Arizona Arizona State University alumni Pueblo artists 21st-century American artists Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Native American fashion designers Native American people from Arizona