Native American Boobs — New

The most critical shift in contemporary Native fashion content is linguistic: moving from the word "costume" to "clothing" or "regalia." A costume is something worn for play or disguise, often mass-produced. Regalia (or "traditional wear") is ceremonial, personal, and often carries spiritual significance. When a Diné (Navajo) weaver posts a time-lapse of her creating a diamond-patterned sash, she is not demonstrating a craft; she is sharing a piece of her matrilineal lineage. When a Coast Salish artist shows the meticulous application of mussel-shell buttons on a button blanket, they are broadcasting an act of cultural continuance.