Orlando Dugi
Orlando Dugi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Navajo Nation |
| Occupation(s) | Fashion designer, artist |
| Known for | Diné fashion creations incorporating beadwork, embroidery, and silversmith elements |
| Notable work | Exhibitions at Style Fashion Week New York City, Autry Museum of the American West, Denver Art Museum, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising; featured in Native Fashion Now exhibition; documentary Becoming: Orlando Dugi |
Orlando Dugi is a Diné fashion creator originating from the Navajo Nation, presently residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Early life
Raised on his family’s sheep ranch located on Grey Mountain in North-Central Arizona, Dugi acquired hand-sewing skills from his grandmothers and advanced to operating sewing machines by the time he was in seventh grade.
Work
Dugi’s creations fuse his Diné cultural roots with contemporary aesthetics, showcasing garments adorned with hand-stitching, beadwork, embroidery, and feather details, often enhanced by elements of silversmith craftsmanship. His approach poetically conveys cultural narratives without directly replicating traditional designs.
In 2018, he presented his hand-beaded collections at Style Fashion Week in New York City, receiving positive critical attention. His work has been displayed at prominent venues such as the Autry Museum of the American West, Denver Art Museum, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, and the Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising. Additionally, his pieces featured in the traveling exhibition Native Fashion Now curated by the Peabody Essex Museum.
The Wheelwright Museum produced a catalog accompanying his joint exhibition It's in the Details: Kenneth Williams and Orlando Dugi.
A documentary entitled Becoming: Orlando Dugi, directed by Kaela Waldstein, has been screened at various film festivals including the Human Rights Film Festival.
Awards and honors
Dugi has earned accolades from events such as the Heard Museum Guild Art Show, Cherokee Art Show, and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, among others.
In 2018, he was granted a two-month residency at the Museum of the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
In 2022, Dugi received the Rollin and Mary Ella King Fellowship along with a Native American Artist Fellowship from the School for Advanced Research. This support enabled him to explore historic textile methods and materials, culminating in a garment inspired by both Diné traditions and ancient Southwestern cultures.
Further reading
- Manuela, Maria and Dugi, Orlando, Three Questions with Designer Orlando Dugi, New Mexico Magazine, August 2020.
- Scott, Chadd, Orlando Dugi: Diné Fashion Designer and Beadwork Artist, First American Art Magazine, No. 38, Spring 2023.
- Greeves, Teri, Orlando Dugi: Diné Beadwork Artist and Fashion Designer, No. 0, Spring 2013.