Navajo Dolls describe a style of clothing that Navajo women copied from east coast American society in the 1860s. Women of that era wore full dresses made out of satin. President Lincoln's wife and friends wore full dresses made of satin. Navajo women copied the patterns but substituted velvet for the satin and made buttons out of nickels and dimes. These stylish skirts are still fashionable today, for Navajos and non-Navajos alike.
Cultural History
Navajo dolls, beyond their aesthetic appeal, serve as cultural artifacts reflecting the Navajo people's adaptation and creativity. In the 1860s, Navajo women innovatively embraced elements from East Coast American fashion, notably by adopting full dress styles seen in society figures such as President Lincoln's wife. They ingeniously used locally available materials, replacing satin with velvet and crafting buttons from coins, showcasing resourcefulness and cultural exchange. This adaptation highlights the dynamic nature of Navajo artistry, where traditional practices blend with external influences, resulting in garments that carry significant cultural identity and are cherished both within and outside the Navajo community. [1]
References
- ^ Spain, James N. (May 1982). "Navajo Culture and Anasazi Archaeology: A Case Study in Cultural Resource Management". KIVA. 47 (4): 273–278. doi:10.1080/00231940.1982.11760576. ISSN 0023-1940.
- Larson, Jack Lenor. Folk Art from the Global Village. Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1995.
Spain, James N. “Navajo Culture and Anasazi Archaeology: A Case Study in Cultural Resource Management.” Kiva, vol. 47, no. 4, Summer 1982, pp. 273–78. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.avoserv2.library.fordham.edu/10.1080/00231940.1982.11760576.