Runway to Room: Going Native

By Marni Elyse Katz
July 29, 2011

Native American

Designers are embracing the Native American trend: Mara Hoffman Swim 2011 (photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz), Milly By Michelle Smith Spring 2011 (photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for IMG), Vivienne Westwood Fall 2011 Runway (photo by Nathalie Lagneau/Catwalking/Getty Images)

Native Americann Patterns and prints have been dominating catwalks for seasons, with designers styling ensembles showcasing everything from feminine watercolors, sprawling graffiti and paint splatters, to color-blocked geometrics, African ikats, and tropical fruit. Recently, runways, red carpets and fashion glossies have been celebrating tribal style of the Americas with an altogether different set of patterns.

left: The patterning on this window of Anthropologie in Boston has a distinctly Aztec flair.

A spread in Vogue went with Southwestern chic with Navajo-blanket prints—very Ralph Lauren meets Pendelton. Elle touted “The New West” and “Neo-Native,” flaunting feathers and crochet mixed with Proenza Schouler ziggurat patterns conceived as a result of the duo’s road trip from Santa Fe to Wyoming. Marie Claire went for Peruvian Inca inspiration, and Lucky styled a mash-up that included Versace’s colorful fringe bag that’s reminiscent of Cherokee beading.

Native American

Liv Tyler (photo by Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic) and Chloe Moretz (photo by Brian To/FilmMagic) in Native American-inspired prints

Native American

The rooms of interior designer and blogger Amber Lewis’ Los Angeles home channel a Southwest bohemian vibe. Though the brightly colored rug in the dining room is actually a traditional hand-woven Turkish Anatolia kilim, the tribal patterns are similar to those found in the Americas, and the sheepskin throws accentuate the look. Lewis upholstered the headboard with a brightly patterned $17 scarf from H&M.

As much as style-setters adore Native American influences, the look has not really been featured on the pages of interior design magazines (save for the usual Southwestern decors one finds in high end second homes in the American West). We put out a call to interior designers across the country to see if they’ve been experimenting with such styles, but received minimal response. We had more luck spotting the trend on blogs and other sites—we even did a story of our own with Lori Leven, founder of new New-York-based-Santa-Fe-inspired lifestyle shop Love, Adorned.

Naturally, the vibrant patterns and rich materials—not to mention the shell mirrors, deer skull wall decorations and dreamcatchers we found in conjunction with the Lori Leven story—prompted us to wonder: could we create a Native American-inspired room comprised of finds sourced on eBay, where sales for related items are up 8 percent in a recent period compared to approximately one year prior? Most certainly.

Native American

left: Blogger/designer Lewis’ white kitchen is the perfect backdrop for the rich throw rug, which adds warmth, as do the industrial, exposed-bulb pendants. right: Boston area interior designer Brenda Be used fair trade, hand-woven wool accent pillows from the Wari tribe, a Native American culture from the Andes. She says this about the style: “Native American elements are great in small quantities. They add an earthy quality to rooms that might otherwise be too cold or traditional. They work quite well in transitional and contemporary spaces, providing an unexpected pop of pattern and color.” (Photo: Stephen Savard)

We steered clear of overly thematic pairings, instead curating an eclectic mix of Aztec, Incan, Cherokee, and Navajo styles in limited color palette. The rug provides the biggest pop of color and pattern, so for furniture we chose a timeless but earthy wooden table, along with clean-lined turquoise chairs from the 1950s. The beaded doll provides levity, while the elkskin-covered bow adds a natural rawness. The sterling napkin rings with zigzag cutouts could work just as easily in a modernist décor. As for the majestic bird motif, it's been fashioned into a lot of gold jewelry of late, but we also love it on a mug.