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Indigenous model and activist Quannah Chasinghorse attended the 2022 Met Gala with a glamorous look celebrating her Native community. The 19-year-old, who belongs to Oglala Lakota and Hän Gwich’in tribes, stepped onto the red carpet wearing a striking upcycled aqua-colored trapeze dress in tulle by Parung Gurung and a collection of Native-made accessories.
Chasinghorse went viral at last year’s Met Gala for a gold-and-turquoise dress dedicated to Indigenous culture and style. For this year’s event, she wanted a gown that would highlight the artistry of the jewelry she would be donning, which brought her to NYC-based designer Parung Gurung. “[Prabal Gurung] Mahsi’choo (thank you very much) for inviting me, dressing me in this beautiful gown, and for making me feel like royalty,” Chasinghorse says via Instagram. “The fact that you wanted me to feel seen with this year’s theme means the world to me because indigenous people have been overlooked and misrepresented (let alone represented at all). Prabal wanted the jewelry to be the big moment, being the theme was ‘In America: An Anthology of Fashion – Gilded Age.’”
Sure enough, it was hard to look away from the ornate white-and-red necklace adorning Chasinghorse’s neck and shoulders, which featured a variety of meaningful materials. “The jewelry was handmade by Antelope Women Designs, and it followed theme perfectly,” Chasinghorse continues. “Made with Earth Elements that my people used for millennia, Dentalium shells, Porcupine quills, and Tanned/Smoked hide. The piece was put together so fast and it was beyond what I could’ve imagined and I’m honored. The beadwork included Tipis and traditional colors, to make me feel less alone and in a way surrounded by my community.” The necklace was complemented by matching armbands and earrings, and two eagle feathers donated from Indigenous people incorporated into her braided hairstyle.
Lenise Omeasoo, a Blackfeet and Cree artist, is the owner and designer behind Antelope Women Designs, which produced the accessories Chasinghorse debuted at the Met Gala. She wanted to create jewelry that reflected Chasinghorse’s vision of an Indigenous view on the theme of Gilded Glamor. “As each day passed, I could see my design come to life ….along with the reality that this was all real… When creating this piece I was inspired by our native communities,” Antelope Women Designs says in an Instagram post. “Each beaded tipi upon her necklace represents her communities love and support. This was also my first quilled piece…May she inspire many and break countless more boundaries in the fashion world. I’m so honored to accessorize [Quannah Chasinghorse]!”
Once again, Chasinghorse created a space for Indigenous beauty, style, and culture at the Met Gala with her iconic look made from collaboration and community.
Indigenous model and activist Quannah Chasinghorse returned to the Met Gala this year wearing an upcycled, blue tulle trapeze dress designed by NYC-based designer Prabal Gurung.
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Chasinghorse completed her look with a number of accessories celebrating Native community.
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The striking beaded necklace is made by Lenise Omeasoo, a Blackfeet and Cree artist better known as Antelope Women Designs.
Watch this video to see how Antelope Women Designs created Chasinghorse’s stunning statement necklace:
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Quannah Chasinghorse: Instagram
Antelope Women Designs: Website | Instagram
Prabal Gurung: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Allure]
All images via Getty Images, the Met Gala, and Antelope Women Designs.
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