Loren Aragon Explained

Loren Aragon is a Native American fashion designer from Acoma Pueblo whose work is inspired by Acoma pottery and culture. His ACONAV couture brand is known for its asymetrical designs, patterns and materials such as silk and leather that blend cultural ideas with modern silhouettes.

Education

In 1998, Aragon moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University; in 2004 he received a BSE degree in mechanical engineering.^{[1] [2]} While working as an engineer in Phoenix, he taught himself garment construction and fashion design by deconstructing and reverse-engineering dresses. He worked as an engineer for 13 years before becoming a fashion designer.^[3]

Work

Aragon grew up observing his mother and aunt create traditional Acoma garments. He began making jewelry, but later, after researching traditional Pueblo designs at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, decided to pursue a career in fabric and fashion design. His garments often incorporate traditional Pueblo elements such as red sashes, manta, and single-shouldered black sash dresses worn at coming of age cultural events when girls are elevated to womenhood.^[4]

Aragon's first full collection of 20 pieces premiered in December 2014. He cites Virgil Ortiz and Alexander McQueen as his creative influences. In addition to the runway Aragon has exhibited his fashion designs in art venues including the National Museum of the American Indian,^[5] Poeh Museum at Pojoaque Pueblo,^[6] the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture,^[7] the Phoenix Indian Center,^[8] Epcot Center,^[9] and other venues.

Personal life

His wife, Valentina, is Diné and is the business partner and operations manager of ACONAV.

Honors and awards

• 2012, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
• 2017, Native American Artist Fellowship, Ronald and Susan Dubin Fellowship^{[10] [11]}
• 2018, Couture Designer of the Year, Phoenix Fashion Week^[12]

Collections

Aragon's work is in the permanent collection of the School for Advanced Research, Santa Fe, New Mexico^{[13] [14]} and the Museum of Indian Arts + Culture.^[15]

Sources

• Holmes, Kelly. Loren Aragon: Five Years Later, Native Max Magazine, Art and Fashion Issue, September/October 2020
• Lengel, Kerry. Meet the Native designer who dressed Arizona’s only Tony Awards voter for the red carpet, AZ Central, May 30, 2019
• Check out Loren Aragon’s Artwork, Voyage Phoenix, February 12, 2019
• ACONAV Founder Loren Aragon on Building a Couture Fashion Brand and Designing for Disney, Native Business Magazine, July 1, 2018
• Rivas, Kyla. Native American couture designer, Loren Aragon, commissioned to design gown for Walt Disney World, Navajo-Hopi Observer, May 24, 2018
• Native fashion designer Loren Aragon’s ACONAV receives Arizona Apparel Foundation scholarship, Tribal Business News, January 23, 2020
• Field, Kimberly.Best of the West: Fashion Visionaries - Loren and Valentina Aragon, Cowboys and Indians Magazine

External links

• Official website
• Interview with Loren and Valentina Aragon on PBS
• Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Meet the Artist: Loren Aragon

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gleisser . Benjamin . Aragon once engineered military shock absorbers; now he's dazzling the fashion world with inventive designs honoring Native American culture . 18 September 2019 . Arizona State University News . 2 June 2021.
2. Web site: Tupica . Rich . Loren Aragon of ACONAV goes from Geek to Chic . Native News Online . 2 June 2021.
3. Gonzales . Nick . Indigenous couture: Four Southwestern designers combine fashion and Native American heritage . DGO Magazine . 12 February 2020 . 1 July 2021.
4. News: Weidman . Paul . Fashionably empowered: Designer Loren Aragon . 2 June 2021 . Santa Fe New Mexican . 11 August 2017.
5. Web site: Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art . National Museum of the American Indian . 2 June 2021.
6. News: Biggers . Ashley M. . The Incredible Influence of New Mexico's Native Fashion Designers . 2 June 2021 . New Mexico Magazine.
7. Web site: Creating Tradition . New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs . 2 June 2021.
8. News: Phoenix Indian Center to Celebrate the Art of Native Fashion in Virtual Silver & Turquoise Ball . Red Lake Nation News . 16 September 2020.
9. Bemis . Bethanee . Epcot Just Got a New Smithsonian Museum Exhibition . Smithsonian Magazine . August 2018 . 2 June 2021.
10. Web site: Acoma Designer Pushes Creative Boundaries in the Fashion World . School for Advanced Research . 2 June 2021.
11. Web site: Native American Artist Fellowships 2017 . SAR . 2 June 2021.
12. Web site: 2017 Dubin Fellow Loren Aragon Wins at Phoenix Fashion Week . School for Advanced Research . 2 June 2021.
13. Web site: Works: Loren Aragon . School for Advanced Research, Indian Arts Research Center . 2 June 2021.
14. Web site: Loren Aragon - Artists - Indian Arts Research Center . SAR IRC . 2 June 2021.
15. McEnaney . Lillia . Evoking Empowerment . El Palacio: Art, History and Culture of the Southwest . Fall 2022 . Fall . 20 July 2023.