Dream Weaver: Navajo designer Naiomi Glasses

At 26, Navajo artist Naiomi Glasses is passing down generations of a rich Native American tradition of weaving through her collaboration with Ralph Lauren, by becoming the fashion house's first artist-in-residence. This month Glasses, who brought her love of Navajo designs and skateboarding to social media, is launching her new collection, which she calls a love letter to her people. Correspondent Serena Altschul reports.
‪@RalphLauren‬
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[@cactustree505]

Too many other companies would have just stolen the designs instead of teaming up with Naomi. Culture appropriation from Pendleton Blankets, sweaters and t-shirt companies have been the norm until Ralph Lauren. I'm impressed and hope other companies follow their example of respect and fairness instead of stealing Native American art.

[@clayoreilly4553]

Wow!! That is one POWERFUL young woman. What a story.

[@pmarlowe1638]

Naiomi, you and your artistry are beautiful!

[@pattiwhite9575]

I just love her patterns and colors. She has a very unique style that is all hers. So happy she has collaborated with such a big name brand company to produce wonderful natural products. And, at the same time helped raise her community up also.

[@ravenscry048]

What a wonderful story of a successful Navajo woman. Her resilience, her artistry and success as a businesswoman are an inspiration to others.

[@steveconn]

Carpet-weaving a time-old tradition for Navajo in the Four Corners area. Found in Gallup, NM too. Plus skate-boarding! Naomi a go-getter! Go get it, girl!

[@okaminess]

It wasn't just carpets. Get your facts straight.

[@Ariel-jf3ec]

Thank you for handling this piece so beautifully. This reporter is always handled things so eloquently and respectfully. Thank you for sharing the story it's absolutely beautiful. Her work is beautiful more power to her

[@seehearlab9463]

Beautiful work!

[@darryldrax606]

Beautiful art work and artist ✌️🙏👍

[@lisamann8521]

Such a great story! These clothes are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Congratulations on your achievement in every way, well deserved!

[@JanetBeebe-nh9re]

She's a wonderful lady... bless her work.

[@swst]

Saw this piece when it aired on Sunday morning & I had to come here to watch it again! Naiomi is a true inspiration & a marvel to watch & as a Polo wearer myself I salute you 🫡 Naiomi!

[@michaelscot4816]

What an amazing person and culture! 💜

[@geisalagordon9966]

The true Natives, the Indians! Love this story A LOT!!! 🎉Congratulations to this beautiful and talented lady! Thanks to her brother who started her on this path by the way of their beautiful grandmother and their ancestors!

[@jimrebr]

I love Navaho blankets and weaving. I saw women weaving on the Rez, when I was 9 years old and I always wanted to weave. I did get to weave and my tapestries reflected the patterns I saw as a child. My hands and shoulders and neck are too injured for me to weave anymore, but I still dream of weaving. I love her work with Ralf Lauren!❤

[@Slv2therhythm]

Stunning designs and such an incredible story.

[@elizabethclark8374]

Hello, I had the privilege of teaching on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico for 5 years! I admire many things about the Navajo culture. I feel that I was lucky to have experienced living with another culture and learning about it! I retired from there at age 70 and moved back to my home state of Texas. While I lived in New Mexico I bought several pieces of art that are native to the area. Elizabeth Goodrich, Texas

[@motherearth1979]

Thank you Naomi and Mr Lauren. You represent everything that America should be. I truly loved Indigenous art and that coat is so exquisite.

[@lynnyhen]

I learned how to weave with a simple backstrap loom in art class in the '70s. I feel inspired to pick up the craft again. Naiomi is an incredibly gifted artist and human. I hope her collaboration with Lauren makes her very wealthy!

[@coneflower51wf75]

Beautiful, I just hope she is being paid well and not being exploited

[@lil-granny]

Talented

[@corinneanderson1273]

Glad her talent is truly appreciated.

[@krazmokramer]

Fabulous story! In the 1970s, my fraternity brother was the architect who designed homes and a civic center for the Navajo Reservation. I was fortunate enough to travel with him onto the reservation for the day the project was completed. After the ceremony, we were taken to places on the reservation by the Navajo Project Manager that few outsiders have ever been. It was the most beautiful place I've ever been in my nearly 70 years.

[@to-ree-neewolf1742]

What a remarkable Talent! So very glad she is getting the recognition that she deserves. And such great designs grounded and informed by her rich Heritage. Naiomi Glasses, such an inspiration!

[@BS-jy9ul]

Incredible!!

[@clddenny657]

Lovely story. Thank you for keeping traditions alive

[@soniatriana9091]

What a nice story! I once visited an Apache Reservation in the White Mountains of AZ, over 35 years ago. So I’m happy to see this young woman’s success can help out her community.

[@user-ju1os7kz3q]

This story is why I love this show. 💕

[@kevinstinson4853]

Good for you! The world needs more

[@JiminPalmSprings]

Love this !

[@kathysmith3528]

This is so awesome.

[@Canhandleit839]

Another story that made me bawl. I love this show. Especially now, we need these stories that show us the good in life.

[@Angela-pi6zc]

Beautiful designs, Ns. Naomi!

[@angelikalindenau943]

Wonderful. I remember the video of this young woman skateboarding. Her work is awesome - I wonder how the cultural appropriation warriors react. She clearly uses her work for creating jobs and developing more resources for her people while realising the life that is uniquely hers. Best of success!

[@theenthusiasticgardenerind3490]

Beautiful!

[@CFGossettAbbasHealingArts]

Naiomi has a beauty that shines from within that is so amazing. She has beautiful work and I admire her for her dream to continue weaving like her ancestors before her.

[@marykatecurtis9557]

What a beautiful artist thank you for sharing her story 😊

[@jbirdz3609]

I hope she’s getting what she truly deserves!! $$$ good for her ❤

[@MyBeautifulBeauty]

Am happy for you Naomi

[@4uRicki]

Most people don’t know that Ralph Lauren grew up poor and most of his clothes were hand-me downs. His first office space was a post office box. His gift to his would be wife on an early date was when he took her to a thrift store and bought her a riding jacket. Gathered scraps of cloth left over from the garment district in NYC and created gorgeous ties which he sold on the street. Turned down a lucrative offer to put them in the stores of at that time the largest retailer in the country. They wanted changes that didn’t reflect his design vision. He was broke but stood by his instincts. Eventually they agreed to let him design his way and from humble beginnings he built a fashion empire. Even after incredible success he remained humble and raised his kids with good values and hard work. This talented and sweet young lady is a good fit with Ralph Lauren and his legacy. 👌🏼

[@sharonsadowski5556]

Beautiful 💕

[@uncleg1623]

Bravo 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@bettydavis7904]

Yes !

[@Elizabeth-tm7xr]

That a girl! Congratulations!! Beautiful work and person. Keep your head up!

[@JCNDCIII]

Congrats to Naiomi! Some great pieces! A lot of sizes have already sold out.

[@huskeyfosterfail4980]

Naiomi and Ralph what an amazing collaboration! I have been wearing Ralph Lauren forever, and I just acquired two Naiomi Glasses wool blankets at REI. What a great story! I can’t wait for all that is to come and for my next visit to her nation. Beautiful! Yay!

[@isdeirinnme]

I didn’t know about the one at REI. Thanks!

[@huskeyfosterfail4980]

@@isdeirinnmeIt is a camp blanket collaboration with Sackcloth and Ashes. I use a safety pin and make the blanket a piece I can also wear while traveling…

[@denik258]

What an amazing young woman!

[@debbralehrman5957]

We have a Skatepark in my church. Kids love it. Her work is beautiful.💕💕💕

[@CLB30ROX]

Amazing! Beautiful art pieces 😁

[@Bun800]

Beautiful story, thank you for sharing!

[@daybreakwarrior]

I am so proud of her!!!

[@user-ez7rg9tz7f]

Amazing!

[@stevencampbell365]

Go Strong Beautiful Lady 😊😊

[@Mark.G475]

Very cool! Best wishes from Milwaukee Wisconsin 🧀🐄

[@panchamama]

Beautiful

[@T_WC123]

So beautiful and inspiring!!!

[@elainekinney6186]

Naiomi, God bless your creativity.

[@eleanormenz7169]

How wonderful, more power to you sister.

[@KM-hv1jg]

She weaves AND shreds! 🤘

[@fionabryant7923]

So beautiful, yr soul

[@DannyShipley-rb4nj]

Nizhonih…..Beautiful creation….from a very 💪🏾 strong Dine…relative. thanks 👍4 sharing..ur ideas Noamih

[@okaminess]

W00t! U go girl! Nizhoni.

[@valerianthemackiii5896]

⭐️*⭐️*⭐️*⭐️*⭐️

[@godfreymccammon4531]

Indigenous Native Americans are the only true Americans, and Ms. Glasses work reflects the land, the soul and the beauty not to be lost!

[@MeanderThisWay]

You guys should do a story about the Second Sphinx in Egypt

[@TXMEDRGR]

With her beautiful clothes and designs, Naiomi shows herself to be a true artist. The patterns and colors are fantastic. Are people wearing these clothes going to be accused of 'cultural appropriation?'

[@lavernemoreno7168]

Nizonhi shi yazzi, beautiful my child, Nizonhi, Nizonhi,Nizonhi, Nizonhi

[@LaraeThomas-un9rh]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@randolphfriend8260]

🥲 ❤️

[@carlrutledge6536]

We can keep moving forward and we can keep finding our empowerment, but what we can't do is rewrite history. We are AMERICAN INDIANS!! The British new arrival Indians from India can get over it. This is our country and we are American Indians. They can use what they have prescribed for themselves as Indian Americans. This generation has not business questioning what generations many years before ours did. We just have to travel down our prescribed paths and add beauty by building on the foundations we have been handed.

[@wolflarson71]

Can non natives wear these clothes now or is it considered cultural appropriation?

[@JoAnnaDale]

It's in the Ralph Lauren collection and is available at retail.

[@wolflarson71]

@@JoAnnaDale You get shamed these days for wearing attire "belonging" to other cultures.

[@JoAnnaDale]

It's in the Ralph Lauren collection. The artist is offering it to everyone. I'm from the same tribe (Dine' , Navajo) as the artist.

[@wolflarson71]

@@JoAnnaDale I understand, but celebrities and models, for example, have been criticized for wearing clothing outside their culture. That's the "cultural appropriation" dynamic we live in now unfortunately

[@ovh992]

Chief Branding and Innovation Officer???? Uh huh. Is that what you call it when the owner of the company gives his loser son a foo foo job just to give him something to do??? 😂

[@spark300c]

keep Carpet-weaving not only for tradition but for making a living. native are poor on the res and need industry to support them selves.

[@pleinaire8698]

Naomi's designs are stunning!! too bad she had to plump up her lips..They look weirdly unnatural.

[@JoAnnaDale]

That's not a nice thing to say. She has already been picked on enough. Stop it.