Now in its seventh year, the annual Kananesgi Fashion Show was created to elevate Southeastern Indigenous fashion and provide a platform for designers to showcase their work and connect with the wider art community. While the event is rooted in the mission to grow Indigenous art and design as a whole, focus is placed on Cherokee identity and innovation.
Left: Gaby Nagel wearing Delaney Wildcatt. Photo by Kilyne Oocumma. Right: Danika Huskey wearing Alexandria Lane. Photo by Kilyne Oocumma.
The theme of this year’s show is “Cherokee Metamorphosis,” a prompt that challenges artists to reflect on the transformation of Cherokee artistry, “honoring the past, embracing the present and envisioning the future.”
“What makes the work of [Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian] designers so captivating is the way it carries our stories across generations,” says participating artist Alica Wildcatt of Greybeard Metalsmithing. “The designs you see on the runway are not just clothes, they are living connections to designs and iconography that our ancestors carved, painted and wove thousands of years ago. Those ancient symbols of strength, balance and belonging are now being reimagined in fabric, beadwork and modern silhouettes, reminding us that our culture has always been innovative. Each piece is both a reflection of timeless Cherokee identity and a vision for our future. That blending of past and present of sacred imagery and bold creativity is what makes our fashion unforgettable, because it shows that our culture is not frozen in history, but thriving, evolving and alive in every stitch.”
Left: Hope Long wearing Faith Long-Presley of Ganvhida Designs. Photo by Kilyne Oocumma. Right: Julianna Welch wearing Tara McCoy. Photo Bear Allison
Eastern Band of Cherokee designers in the upcoming event include Faith Long-Presley (Ganvhida Designs), Paula Wojtkowski (Unapologetically Rez), Alexandria Lane (Songbird Designs), Freida Saylor (Mumblehead Designs), Keredith Owens (Wadulisi Designs), Delaney Wildcatt, Nancy Pheasant and many more.
“Cherokee design is deeply rooted in our culture. We draw inspiration from our history, language, stories, songs and ceremonies,” says Tara McCoy, a member of the Kananesgi Committee, which organizes the show. “What I love is how each Cherokee designer interprets those same connections in unique ways, creating distinct looks that still reflect who we are as a people. The same can be said for our guest designers. We all share a rich history and cultural identity that shines through in our artwork, resulting in truly stunning fashion.”
The fashion show will also feature two esteemed guest designers: Randi Nelson (Secwépemc, Bonaparte/St’uxwtéws First Nation) and Peshawn Bread (Comanche/Kiowa/Cherokee).
Tickets can be purchased prior to the event at www.kananesgi.com. General admission is $25 and VIP admission is $100. The doors open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort Event Center. The fashion show starts at 7 p.m. —
November 8, 2025
Kananesgi Fashion Show
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort Event Center
777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719, www.kananesgi.com
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