ACONAV brand showing at Phoenix Fashion Week

Native American fashion brand ACONAV returns to Phoenix Fashion Week as an established designer.

The three-day runway showcases are Oct. 3-5 at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale. ACONAV is headed by Loren Aragon of Maricopa, who was Phoenix Fashion Week‘s 2018 Couture Designer of the Year.

Aragon’s accolades for ACONAV include a commission for Walt Disney World in 2018, a cover story with AZ Red Book magazine, a place among the Best of the West by Cowboys and Indians magazine and most recently a debut on the red carpet at the 2019 Tony Awards.

“I am always excited and proud to add cultural diversity to the Phoenix Fashion Week lineup,” Aragon said. “As a representative of Native fashion on this runway I feel a sense of responsibility to educate viewers about the proper and respectful presentation of our cultures through fashion.”

Aragon’s culturally fueled presentations tie directly to his Acoma Pueblo heritage and deeply rooted history. Stories, shared global beliefs and a pottery art culture combined with a background in engineering are mixed through the creative process, resulting in the distinct empowering looks ACONAV is known for. This year’s focus is on the cycle of rain, from the build-up of clouds to the down pour and refreshment brought on by nature.

“The Pueblo people carry many beliefs and prayers for rain,” he said. “This collection is a display of the power of rain, the gathering of natural strengths that replenish the earth with beauty and nourishment… with life.”