Meet our 2025 Designers
Bineshi-ikwewag
TURTLE MOUNTAIN, NORTH DAKOTA, ANISHINAABE
Founded in May 2021, Bineshi-ikwewag is a family collective is rooted in a rich tradition of art & cultural expression inspired by our Indigenous language, history & the beautiful Turtle Mountains. Through fashion, we celebrate self-expression & Indigenous-inspired artistry. Introducing grandma Margaret Judy Azure, the heart & matriarch of our family. Together our creations include clothing, jewelry, accessories, & soon to be couture clothing.
Margaret designs & crafts one-of-a-kind Indigenous fashion ribbon skirts, each meticulously created with unique textiles, ribbons, and applique. She is recognized as one of the first, if not the first to bring ribbon skirts into the world of fashion. In addition to skirts, Margaret sews garments, sews beadwork, jewelry, purses, & sculpts handmade pottery!
Angela is the creator of our distinctive Indigenous jewelry sets. Her lightweight designs are colorful, elegant, & fun. Angela is also an accomplished graphic artist, painter, & illustrator, whose popular designs in apparel & totes fly off the shelves.
Amari is one of the first to introduce ribbon pants in the country. Her designs include vibrant cotton print fabrics accented with ribbon, lace, pom-poms & fringe. Amari has redefined Indigenous fashion with her custom garments, beaded earrings, & accessories that bridge traditional & contemporary styles.
At Bineshi-ikwewag, every piece tells a story of resilience, creativity & connection. We are proud to share our heritage through art fashion & community.
Sage Davis
LEECH LAKE ANISHINAABE, MINNESOTA
Sage Davis is an Anishinaabekwe, enrolled in the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, situated in Northern Minnesota. Sage is a beadwork artist, apparel designer, and a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota. With a lifelong dedication to beadwork since the age of 6 and a decade-long journey in sewing, Sage earned an undergraduate degree in Communication, Media, and Rhetoric Her research interests include but are not limited to sustainability, design activism, and social justice within the textile and apparel industry. Her life’s purpose is to on advocating for social justice, and equality, and promoting sustainable innovation by challenging systemic oppression— critical in addressing global challenges.
Lavender Doris
RED LAKE & LEECH LAKE ANISHINAABE, MINNESOTA
As a fashion designer and cultural artist, Lavender’s work is deeply rooted in community, mixing contemporary design to honor cultural preservation and spiritual healing. Guided by the wearer's connection to land and water, Lavender creates high-quality heirloom pieces that reflect movement, spirit, and purpose. Each design carries deep cultural meaning, incorporating medicine florals, spiritual helpers, and materials historically valued through trade as well as locally sourced elements—ensuring both durability and cultural integrity.
Through mixed media, Lavender brings balance, texture, and spirit to every piece, weaving past, present, and future together. Beyond creation, her work is guided by cultural heritage, fostering spiritual healing and empowering the community through mentorship, intergenerational knowledge-sharing, and expanded access to traditional arts. By strengthening Indigenous performance arts and cultural preservation, Lavender works to ensure that our stories, traditions, and identity continue to thrive for generations to come.
Shannon Gustafson
WHITESAND FIRST NATION ANISHINAABE, ONTARIO, CANADA
Shannon’s Anishinaabe name is KiiwedinongKwe, and was raised on the Serpent River First Nation but now resides in the the city of Thunder Bay, where she calls home. Her artistic and creative nature stems from her childhood and inspired by powwow culture.
Shannon honours her gifts everyday by working as a full time artist with support from her family. She has raised a family of artists including her husband and children. The inter-generational transfer of traditional knowledge is important to her and she continues to teach and share her gifts with her family. She has created a strong and beautiful family bond.
Her accomplishments and hardships including the loss of her son has shaped and guided her artistic practices. She uses her art as a way to reconnect with ceremony and to support her healing journey. She believes that her gifts have meaning and purpose.
Today, personal healing and Cultural preservation is her driving force. She loves exploring and learning old art forms specific to ojibwe culture, including traditional ojibwe floral beadwork, patterns, and designs. She has experience with various artistic mediums including beadwork, leatherwork and textiles. She has received numerous Ontario Arts Council grants and is forever grateful for the support and opportunities for continual learning. She was also a recipient of the Hnatyshyn Foundation Reveal Indigenous Artist awards in 2017.
Shannon is grateful for the many blessings in her life. She is passionate and dedicated to indigenous arts practices and will continue to inspire her community, her people and her nation for many years to come.
IamAnishinaabe
Delina White
Leech Lake Anishinaabe, Minnesota
IamAnishinaabe is more than a fashion studio. It a hub of creativity, cultural pride, and community empowerment on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota. Owner Delina White's vision extends far beyond fashion; it's about reclaiming Indigenous identity, promoting economic self-sufficiency, and fostering intergenerational connections.