%20(Logo).png)
That’s The V Podcast
Fashion news, fashion tea (gossip), and opportunities with special guests in the fashion industry.
That’s The V Podcast
Amber Dawn Shares How Community, Culture, And Hard Work Shape Indigenous Fashion
We sit with curator and educator Amber-Dawn Bear Robe to trace a journey from fiber arts to Parsons and explore how Indigenous fashion grows from community, care, and serious work. The talk maps the realities behind the runway, upcoming exhibitions, and advice for newcomers.
• curating museum exhibitions and runway shows across territories
• moving from Santa Fe to New York to teach at Parsons
• the unseen labor and care that make shows work
• why Indigenous fashion defies a single definition
• community-first production vs business-first norms
• upcoming exhibitions in Toronto, St Petersburg and Memphis
• practical guidance for models, designers and backstage roles
Make sure to follow @thatsthevpodcast on all platforms for more fashion content.
If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out: https://jagadvertising.com/
Hi everyone, welcome to That's the V, hosted by yours truly Victoria Kostem, a podcast about fashion, fashion people, and opportunities in the industry. I am here today with Amber Dawn, Indigenous fashion curator, someone I admire very much. So I'm gonna go ahead and let her introduce herself and let us know how you got started and how many years you have in the industry and whatnot. Okay.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you, Victoria. My name is Amber Dawn Barrobe. I'm from Sixica Nation, which is located in Alberta, just above Montana. And yes, I'm an Indigenous fashion curator. I curate shows for runway shows, but also exhibitions for museum spaces. I also write and teach about indigenous fashion and contemporary native art. So it's it's kind of everything feeds into uh each kind of trajectory that I'm involved in.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And I've been involved in contemporary uh native art since graduating from college. So uh many, many years. And I've been uh when I moved to Santa Fe in 2012, that uh curationist specialized turned to a specialty in Indigenous fashion. I started curating runway shows for the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts and uh some other Santa Fe places and also uh places across Hannah and the United States and specifically uh in Santa Fe, then I directed my attention to curating runway shows for Swayah as well as uh exhibition spaces again, kind of in different cities.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. I I think what you do is just really something that people don't really, you know, I need to know more about. I feel like the native industry and the fashion industry is growing so much. So every ever since I met you, I admired everything you were doing, and I was like, I need to know more about yourself and life, what you're doing, and I want to be part of it. So, what made you get into the industry or what inspired you to be like, this is what I want to do?
SPEAKER_01:Well, let me backtrack a little bit. So I've always been involved in contemporary indigenous creative uh creative platform in the visual art specifically, from performance art to installation art to media and textile art. I actually majored in fiber arts at the Alberta College of Art and Design, which is now the Alberta Calgary, Alberta University, something like that. Yeah, and so I've always been, and my father who recently passed away, Andrew Barrow, but he had his uh his specialty and hit he had his PhD in native treaties. My point is that I've been surrounded with um being involved and active in the indigenous community. Yeah, and that's just who I am. That's completely that was just what I was surrounded with. And so being involved in in the indigenous um, I don't like maps and science. I wish that I was, you know, uh indigenous engineer, but I'm a creative person. I actually wanted to be a fashion designer. Okay. Uh I actually wanted to go to Parsons.
SPEAKER_00:I see that, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:But as a young, you know, 19-year-old uh Calgary Sixica girl, that was kind of really uh far-fetched at that time, financially specifically. I had that. Uh so basically my creative um what I wanted to do creatively turned into being on the other side in terms of being a curator. Yeah. And and so it what got me to where I am now, it's just been my whole life trajectory. It's just something I've been involved in ever since I was uh graduating from college. And you know, just full circle. I now I wanted to go to Parsons and I just moved to New York. I know, I'm so excited. And to teach. Now I was offered a tenure position at Parsons in the uh teaching indigenous fashion history. And so I as I already said, I just moved here a few days ago. My I moved here with two pieces of two luggage with two suitcases, a cat and a dog. Yeah. And so I'm in my New York, my I just moved to New York outfit. Uh and and my pink kids, that's all I have for footwear right now. I love it. But um regardless. Full circle.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah. And when you had said that and you had told me before that, um, that's where well where you're gonna be now and where you wanted to be back then, it's I feel like life just gives us the right places at the right time. Yeah. And we need them. And it's so interesting to hear your story because I feel like um everyone that's like so involved in the creative fashion communities are all have like very similar upbringings in regards to maybe you couldn't do what you wanted to do at some point, but every experience kind of builds you to become you know better and be where you want to be. And and I think um I love hearing those stories because I feel like for like the younger generations, they might think it's impossible to go to Parsons or go to New York or do fashion, do things they love. And like including me, when I started, I I wanted to also be a fashion designer, but I mean also um having a background of like Latino, Hispanic and Mexican parents, and not being able to afford what I wanted to do made me kind of just wiggle my way into like, okay, I'm gonna do business because that's what I'm supposed to do, but but it wasn't the passion and you know, gone my way to meet amazing people like yourself and just be involved in the fashion industry.
SPEAKER_01:Kind of going back to what you're saying, I think uh what's important about what you're saying is that this isn't something that I just that we popped up overnight. We're like, oh, we want to be in the fashion.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:It like we want to uh the it's hard work. Uh it's not about this fashion party and being the bell of the ball. It is hard work, it has been dedication, it's been blood, sweat, and tears, it's been years, it's been decades for me. Um, and it's hard work. It really is. And it really is uh passion and uh it's who I am, it's who you are, and that's what just keeps you motivated because stars know we don't do it for the money. Yeah. Literally. Yeah. Again, if I was doing something for the money, I should have been an engineer. Um, so uh, you know, I just want to get that point across that it is hard work, it's not just I want to be in a native fashion, which I see a lot of uh that kind of popping up lately over the past few years. Um not understanding the work that you're fashioning.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and and the research and the story behind it and like the message that you want to come get across as well. I feel it's not just about like house. It's not every party. Exactly. The glitz and glam.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, because I can tell you there's very little glitz and glam behind the scenes. But I literally do I am cleaning bathrooms, I am uh getting food ready to feed the models. I'm constantly uh, you know, cleaning the area to to feed you models because you models eat a lot back a house. I you are all very hungry. It's a it's a myth that models don't eat.
SPEAKER_00:No, no, it really is a myth, right? Um experiences were we're like people think that's true, and and the amount of times there had has been like 10 hour days, and we get like a little like granola. Yeah. Okay, like not we we are people, but um yeah, but but thank you so much for being how you are because I feel like you understand that and you see that. And I feel like anything that I've been part of that you've produced, I've always felt very taken care of. And good, that means a lot to me to hear that. No, it really I really happy. Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, and that is an important part of uh I think that also really stems from me being an art curator, uh, first and foremost, and um an educator uh teach uh in terms of contemporary native art. Uh I taught for eight years at the Institute of American Indian Arts. And it it's about community, it's about um taking care of the artists. It's uh it's not about the end result, it's about the process and uh relationship building, community building, and I really take that um concept and that perspective into what I do with uh programming indigenous fashion.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:And so it really does come from a different perspective rather than uh this business-driven cutthroat perspective, which maybe it's I need to put a little bit of that into it, yeah, now being in New York, but to always have that component and to always balance it with community and being conscious and taking care of um the whole, because it is the whole that then gets presented to the outside world that will see, accept, will feel, yeah, and and get that attention and then figure out how it actually is. And and I think that's what makes Indigenous fashion very unique. I think so too. Is there's all these little components that um interest where we come from and and not not all the models are indigenous, that's fine. But I think that the core of the community of these indigenous fashion shows um, you know, it has this perspective that is really unique and really special. And I'm so glad to now be carrying kind of those special components and bringing those special components to New York. And I'm so happy to be seeing you in New York and to be working with models that I've worked with in Santa Fe. Yeah. To be working with um all of you here now.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I'm surely excited about that. I can't wait to see that community become more part of New York. I feel like it's been like underground for a bit, and I think people really need to know about it and talk about it, and at least I try to as much as I can because I I really do admire and respect, and although I don't have such a strong indigenous background, I I do have part of it, and I I'm it's just like you say, such a like community feeling and drive that it does it is what makes Indigenous fashion different. It's it's more than I feel like just fashion, but the story and the history behind it and what it represents. And and I think it's it's so beautiful and it's so empowering, and it's like giving voice through clothing and through uh just different traditions because I know indigenous has there's so much.
SPEAKER_01:So diverse. Indigenous fashion is extremely diverse. There's no one way to define or explain what it is. Um but I always say there's not one simple set sentence or simple way to describe indigenous fashion because it's so diverse. But what I can say is native artists are the original couturiers of what we now call Canada and the United States. Yeah. So that's true. Um and I think uh now relocating to New York, this is really stepping outside of the native bubble and into the hardcore cutthroat industry here. Yeah. And, you know, it's I guess it's important to, you know, to know the language, so to speak, and then to also um get out of your comfort zone and to be in a space that, you know, if you can do something in New York, you know what New York has the world deer. Yeah. So you know, Santa Fe was great. Uh but I think, you know, I I I hit kind of the ceiling of where I could go with Santa Fe and it was time for me to to keep going. Um I mean the next step after this is Paris.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah, it really is. Like, and I'm excited to see it all. But something that you look you're looking forward to that's up and coming and that we can talk about.
SPEAKER_01:Uh well, I have quite a few projects. Uh the first and foremost is starting the um my uh teaching career at Parsons. That is very exciting. Uh, but you know, then I also have some fashion exhibitions coming up. One in Toronto, okay, called Always in Fashion at the Textile Museum of Canada, that's coming up next year. And then I have an ex a fashion exhibition coming up at the James Museum in Saint St. Petersburg, Florida, as well as one in 2030 at the uh Tennessee Brooks Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. And all three of those exhibitions are exciting for different reasons. They include um uh they all have three different uh territorial pieces to the exhibitions, as well as writing. Uh but the one in 2030 at the Memphis Museum is uh they're building a a new architectural space for their museum. And it's the uh architect who built the Tate Modern is building this space to and the the building is replicating the Mississippi Mound culture architecture sites. Yeah. Uh so that anyways, it's they're all really exciting curatorial projects that I have coming up. Um and in terms of runway, um, you know, spring, it's that's still kind of in the works. I can't really talk about it right now, but I'm super excited for for many different projects for many different reasons. But I mean, I think right now, in this moment, the biggest project has just been relocating and moving to New York.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah. I feel like that's always like there's no bigger project but making that move. Moving here across the country, yeah, into you know, one of the the biggest, most popular cities in the world.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, you know, it and then moving with a cat and a dog. Yeah. When I was 20, I can pack a bag, backpack, and go. I'm not 20 years old anymore. Um, I'm 21.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Please um I love it. So uh moving across the country with a dog and a cat into one of the hardest, most beautiful, complex cities in the world. Uh, that has been my biggest, most exciting project. And so I have landed. I landed in uh Upper East Manhattan. I love that. Yeah, I love that for you so much. Yeah, and so I'm just super excited. Basically, the next month. So I don't start teaching until it's December 2nd. I don't start teaching until mid-January. And so I really have this time to get to know the city to get prepared and to just really just embrace what New York has to offer. And I'm just like ready to go.
SPEAKER_00:Oh my gosh. Super excited. Ready to see it. Like I'm ready to be here for it and and support you in any way, like just to to share anything that needs to be shared and put it out there because everything you do, I feel like, has such a soul and such passion, and and I see it and I I admire it. So um one last thing I would like to talk about.
SPEAKER_01:Can I just say it's people in the industry, models, and everybody who gets who puts these shows together, the the producers, the showrunners, the uh the people who who do the lighting and the sound, like it's all of us. I'm just so I'm so happy that you invited me to do this podcast. I just moved here. It's so great to see both of you. Thank you. Um, and just it's to me, it's just a very positive, warm sign that this is meant to be. And it takes all of us. Yes.
SPEAKER_00:I agree.
SPEAKER_01:Uh this is just such a great way to start my my um chapter in my life.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I um I'm so appreciative of that because likewise, I mean, I feel like I'm just trying to grow as well, and and I want to be able to share what people that inspire me do into the world and and like really be still connected in the fashion the Shripa talk about more than than just the fashion, but how it gets built and how it happens and what's the story and and inspire, just inspire overall. So I am really truly grateful that that you agreed and that like the stars aligned and we were just in the same city at the same time. And so it was just really interesting to see I remember you like posting about New York, and I'm like, oh my gosh, like I'm gonna be there. Let's let's make something often. Well, this is um yes, I agree. And one more thing. Uh, so any advice or recommendations you have for the younger generation who wants to get into the industry, what what is something you would advise?
SPEAKER_01:Uh I guess it depends on what area. Uh, if you want to be a model, a fashion designer, or back a house, uh, or makeup in here, I guess uh the main piece of advice would be to be humble, to reach out to people who are already in the industry, to ask for help and have someone take you under their wing and to really respect the process and to understand that the commitment and the time it's not immediate gratification. It is work, it's great work and um just basically uh yeah, just to reach out to somebody to who is in the field that you're particularly interested in to help guide you. Yeah. That is the that's very, very third basic step. Then I mean if fashion designer, then learn the business model, then you know, there's the whole the friend passage ways to depending on what you want to do.
SPEAKER_00:But I think what you said is very important in um being allowed to be helped. Yeah, you mentioned uh having the ability of like accepting help from others. I feel like sometimes we become stubborn, at least I did at some point. And in as much as I like kind of just wanted to have that feeling of I want to do it by myself because I've always been so independent, but it's okay to help that help. Yeah, and to have someone to guide you what you say. So I love that you brought that up and that really uh connects with me. Um, but yeah, I think overall that's all the time we have to to talk about. I know we Talk for hours about the industry because it's never endless, and and there's so much to it. Yeah, and don't get me started. I can talk for hours. Yeah. Save here. Save here. Um, I like I've said this before when I've recorded that we all love the yap. Like the talking, and and there's just so much to talk about all the time. Well, this is just the beginning. Yeah, it really is, it really is. So with that, I conclude uh this episode. And I'm just again truly grateful that we were able to be part of it. And I can wait to see everything that sprouts from this chapter. And that's the V.
SPEAKER_01:And we should meet in a year from now, see where we're at. Yes. And in a year from now, I will be in my lived in a year. Oh, wait to see everything.
SPEAKER_00:And even, I mean, if it's before that for uh actual like New York Fashion Week or something, I I would love to come back and see where everything is. Touch base. Right. Thank you so much, Amber. Bye. Thank you for tuning in. Make sure to follow at That's the V podcast on all platforms for more fashion content. And a big thank you to our sponsor, Jag Premier Advertising Agency. If you're looking to get on platforms like Hulu or Netflix, check out the link in the description. Until next time.