Fashion can embody memories, associations, expression, and so much more. For textile artist and seventh-generation weaver Naiomi Glasses , fashion embodies tradition, history, culture, passion, and most recently, her roots in indigo-skyed rodeo. Glasses, 27, a member of the Navajo Nation, lives in Arizona but has showcased her work in the Santa Fe Indian Market and throughout Santa Fe for years, earning awards and recognition from the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.
As an intern in a program facilitated by the Creative Futures Collective, Glasses dreamed of breaking into the fashion industry with her craft of weaving. With timing that was nothing short of serendipitous, Glasses, a long-time fan of designer Ralph Lauren, appeared on the New York City company’s radar just as they were seeking to shift focus from inspiration to collaboration. Polo Ralph Lauren, widely known for its collegiate Ivy League-inspired style, decided Glasses was a perfect fit for the company’s first-ever Artist in Residence program, which seeks to partner and collaborate with artisans to feature new voices and skillsets in fashion.
Ralph Lauren announced the Polo Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses collaboration in December, which encompasses a three-part collection that would be dropped throughout 2024, with each part representing a theme consistent with Glasses’ journey with weaving and life. Meet-and-greet at Malouf on the Plaza The first drop, titled Love of the Land , homed in on the ear.