ON THE "SKINNY" CLOTHES IN THE ALBUMS : About 90% of my cliental are plus sized and over the age of 30. I do design for the women over a size 8 and over the age of 30. You only see the skinny young models because it costs money to produce designs for fashion shows and costs money to produce fashion shows. It costs less to produce a sample in a size 0 than in a size 16. I'd rather put that money into buying the fabrics necessary to produce outfits for the plus size lady. Why Young Models? Because it appeals to the broadest audience of all backgrounds to assure attendance. So to assure all the tribal elders, I do design for you as well as your grandchildren. Nizhoni Way Apparel is not only a fashion design label but a lifestyle label.
American Intercontinental University
Los Angeles, CA
Graduated: N/A
Degree: Associate's Degree
Major: Fashion Design
Minor: Fashion Marketing
Clubs: AIU Dressers Club
My name is Duane Clauschee and I am the designer of Nizhoni Way Apparel. I attended design school and worked in and around the fashion industry in Los Angeles, California. My design style is more modern. I use techniques I learned in design school and what I picked up working with design houses. I used fashion as a way of presenting myself to the general public. Subject matter is for a more open-minded individual. My design skills are not just limited to Navajo blouses and 3-tier southwestern skirts.
My goals are to take my label, Nizhoni Way Apparel, to a boarder audience. I don't just want to design for Native America but America as a whole.
I want to change peoples perceptions of what it means to be a Fashion Designer (who happens to be a Native American). When you tell people your a Native American Designer--they assume Native Ceremonial Wear or Pow-Wow costumes-not that there's anything wrong with that. I feel that it does not fully grasp my design skills.
I attended The American Intercontinental University (formerly, The American College for the Applied Arts). While I lived in Los Angeles, I use to work as a dresser (someone that is hired to help models backstage to get dressed--YES I saw naked models...get over it!) behind the scenes with such design labels as Phat Farm, FUBU, Tommy, and Sean Jon. I also worked with the Halston and Escada design houses to prep gowns for the 1999 Oscars. I prepped the gown Tyra Banks wore to the ceremony that year.
I currently work to promote Nizhoni Way Apparel. What Nizhoni Way Apparel strives for is to create original designs that are in step with modern fashion while paying homage to the traditional ceremonial clothing of the Navajo. I am the designer that is changing the Native American Market. Sorry, but tube dresses don't change the market but congest it! While some Native American designers boast that they would like to someday make it to New York Fashion Week, I have the talents to back that statement!
Any questions, pertaining to any of the designs can be answered by emailing:
Who I'd like to meet:
I also do a little writing on the side. I've written for a couple of local newspapers. Here are some samples of my work:
I am not part of any crue/crew--nor am I interested in being part of one. I don't work for others-I work for myself and the other designers I rep! I'm about high fashion! I don't book club events with dj's or bands...sorry I don't play anyone's background nor do I work with prostitutes pretending to be models. I work with the best designers, jewelry people, and artists. Other Natives always want to diss and try thinking their talent is more relevent to the fashion industry than mine....get real and keep it real...t-shirt companies will never replace high fashion!
www.nizhoniwayapparel.com's Friend Space (Randomized)
American Indians Reservations; THE FIRST UNDERCLASS AREAS?
THIS STUDY WAS DONE BY GARY D. SANDEFUR, A PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK, AND SOCIOLOGY, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON. AND AN AFFILIATE OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON POVERTY.
ACCORDING TO GARY D. SANDFUR'S RESEARCH, AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATION'S WITH POPULATIONS OS 2,000 OR MORE THAT ARE IN "UNDERCLASS" AREAS.
% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN POVERTY
FORT TOTTEN N. DAK. SOUIX TRIBE 54% GILA, RIVER, ARIZ. PIMA TRIBE 53% LEECH LAKE, MINN. OJIBWE TRIBE 43% PAPAGO ARIZ. PAPAGO TRIBE 58% PINE RIDGE S. DAK. SOUIX 56% RED LAKE MINN. CHIPPEWA TRIBE 43% ROSE BUD SOUIX TRIBE 49% SALT RIVER ARIZ. PIMA, AND MARICOPA TRIBES. 44% SISSETON N. DAK. & S. DAK. SESSETON WAHPETON SOUIX TRIBE 54% STANDING ROCK N. DAK. & S. DAK. SOUIX TRIBE. 51% FORT APACHE, ARIZ. APACHE TRIBE 54% HOPI ARIZ. HOPI TRIBE 54% NAVAJO ARIZ. NEW MEX. UTAH. NAVAJO TRIBE 53% N. CHEYENNE MONT. CHEYENNE TRIBE 56% SAN CARLOS ARIZ. APACHE TRIBE 66% SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO NEW MEX. SOUTHERN UTE TRIBE 44% TURTLE MOUNTIAN N. DAKOTA CHIPPEWA TRIBE 46% ZUNI PUEBLO NEW MEX. ZUNI TRIBE 46%
I UNDERSTAND THE LAWS AND THE PROBLEM WITH NATIVES NOT UNDERSTANDING THESE THINGS. I TEND TO THINK THE PROBLEM WITH NATIVES TODAY COULD BE IDENTITY, WE CAN'T BE WHO WE ARE, IF THE THINGS WE ARE MENT TO DO, ARE NOT BEING DONE. AS NATIVE PEOPLE WE HAVE A SPECIAL PURPOSE AND NEED. YET MOST NATIVES DO NOT HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF THESE NEEDS. WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH NEW THINGS, I THINK ITS POSSIBLE THAT WE WE HAVE BEEN PLACED IN A SPIRITUAL AND IDENTITY STRAIGHTJACKET. WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR TRADITIONALISM DRIFT AWAY OR IT HAS BEEN STOLEN. WE MUST RETURN TO WHO AND WHAT WE ONCE WERE. WE MUST RETURN TO OUR SONGS AND CERAMONY'S THE WAY THEY WERE DONE 30 DAYS BEFORE COLOMBUS LANDED. NO EURO-CENTRIC INFLUENCES OR RELIGION'S. WE WERE GIVEN A WAY BY THE GIVER OF LIFE.
American Indians Reservations; THE FIRST UNDERCLASS AREAS?
THIS STUDY WAS DONE BY GARY D. SANDEFUR, A PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK, AND SOCIOLOGY, AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON. AND AN AFFILIATE OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON POVERTY.
ACCORDING TO GARY D. SANDFUR'S RESEARCH, AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATION'S WITH POPULATIONS OS 2,000 OR MORE THAT ARE IN "UNDERCLASS" AREAS.
% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN POVERTY
FORT TOTTEN N. DAK. SOUIX TRIBE 54% GILA, RIVER, ARIZ. PIMA TRIBE 53% LEECH LAKE, MINN. OJIBWE TRIBE 43% PAPAGO ARIZ. PAPAGO TRIBE 58% PINE RIDGE S. DAK. SOUIX 56% RED LAKE MINN. CHIPPEWA TRIBE 43% ROSE BUD SOUIX TRIBE 49% SALT RIVER ARIZ. PIMA, AND MARICOPA TRIBES. 44% SISSETON N. DAK. & S. DAK. SESSETON WAHPETON SOUIX TRIBE 54% STANDING ROCK N. DAK. & S. DAK. SOUIX TRIBE. 51% FORT APACHE, ARIZ. APACHE TRIBE 54% HOPI ARIZ. HOPI TRIBE 54% NAVAJO ARIZ. NEW MEX. UTAH. NAVAJO TRIBE 53% N. CHEYENNE MONT. CHEYENNE TRIBE 56% SAN CARLOS ARIZ. APACHE TRIBE 66% SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO NEW MEX. SOUTHERN UTE TRIBE 44% TURTLE MOUNTIAN N. DAKOTA CHIPPEWA TRIBE 46% ZUNI PUEBLO NEW MEX. ZUNI TRIBE 46%
Thanks for the add and friendship, lovely stuff, hope you find much success...also, there is the Red Mountain pow wow this weekend near Scottsdale, AZ...
The UNM-Gallup LGBT Str8 Alliance has invited Equality New Mexico to
the UNM-Gallup campus to conduct a Bullying Prevention workshop!
This workshop examines how bullying prevention programs reduce
health risks especially within the LGBT community in New Mexico. It
explores how bullying impacts health outcomes and relationships.
This workshop is about creating a collaborative and community based
approach to address the ongoing bullying problem primarily related to
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in schools and
communities.
The Workshop will be conducted on Friday, October 30th ~ 11:00 am
to 1:00 pm at UNM-Gallup Campus, Calvin Hall auditorium. It will be
followed by the showing of the film "The Laramie Project"
All events are brought to you free by the UNM-Gallup LGBT STR8 Alliance.
I am of dotted silver threads that have dropped from heaven. Nature takes me, to adorn Her fields and valleys. I God's eye I am beautiful liken to pearls, plucked from the Seas of my daughter's of Dawn To embellish the gardens. I cry as the hills laugh; & I am humble myself All things are elated. & the field are where the clouds of lovers are And between them I am a messenger of light. I quench the thirst of one; I cure the ailment of the other. & I am alive Do you see me?
Online Now!
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