If you’re looking to understand your creativity and how it connects to your roots, this interview will surely spark some ideas and inspiration for you. Bethany Yellowtail is an influential Native fashion designer who shares her Crow and Northern Cheyenne heritage with the utmost sensitivity and care. When our host first stumbled upon her, Majo was struck by Bethany’s work and its beautiful celebration of Native American culture (without the ickiness of appropriation).

They cover what it was like for Bethany growing up as one of the only Native girls in a mostly white public school, how she envisioned her brand and met her co-founder, and the inspiration behind her artist collective. Not only is she carving out an entirely new space in the fashion industry, but she’s doing so in a way that is positively impacting Native communities.

Show Notes:
-Bethany as a little girl: An old soul growing up on the Crow Indian Reservation. [4:43]
-On her parents and Native heritage, and dealing with racist mentalities that still exist to this day. [8:52]
-The extreme culture shock of her college years in L.A. and the emergence of her unique brand. [12:51]
-Bethany’s business partner who arrived via “divine intervention” and the launch of their first ecommerce products. [17:26]
-Her point of view around authentic native representation in fashion, plus the lessons she learned working for other companies. [21:21]
-How Bethany’s work is a way of sharing her culture, and how she deals with criticism. [25:03]
-On the theme of reclamation and how it relates to modern-day issues impacting Native communities. [31:39]
-Bethany shares about the inspiration and vision behind her artist collective. [33:31]

References:
Bethany Yellowtail – www.byellowtail.com
Artist collective – www.byellowtail.com/all

Heroine Live! IndieGogo campaign – bit.ly/heroinelive

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Episode Sponsors:
UENO – ueno.co/careers
InVision – invisionapp.com/company