Upon meeting Kristean Velasquez, one cannot look away from her stunning beaded earrings. Large lemon-yellow hearts fill the center, outlined with several rows of yellow beads. All differing shades stretch outward, creating an ombre that radiates like sunshine. Symbolic of her people and culture, Velasquez wears a piece of regalia every day. Handcrafted between someone's fingertips, the regalia reiterates the fact that Indigenous people are still here. Velasquez hopes to make her people proud and represent them well. A recent Fort Lewis graduate and mother of two, she walks with purpose and pride.
Velasquez remembers visiting her grandmother when she was little and admiring her beadwork, but this admiration soon turned into a responsibility to learn the craft and hone her style. Her grandmother said, “Krissy, you are the only one who knows our culture… you are gonna have to teach it to your nieces, your nephews, your family. You’re gonna have to learn it.” The pressure she felt was immense, but the purpose held true. She was the successor of her grandmother’s craft.
Velasquez began with beading a single flower and moved on to other projects but has found a true love for sewing, specifically traditional Southern Ute regalia. She has taken the craft and made it her own, adding elements of modernity to the traditional style. She aims to create high-quality Indigenous fashion that is modern and chic, complementing any outfit. Her work inspires other Indigenous artists such as Elisia Cruz, a Southern Ute entrepreneur and creative. Cruz creates contemporary beadwork with a stylistic modern flair. She experiments with bright color palettes and materials such as mirrors, pearls, and diamonds.
Velasquez’s earrings, described earlier, were custom-made by Cruz. Velasquez reflects, “You are taking this time to handcraft… this one-of-a-kind art. A really beautiful thing about regalia is that you don't see any two of a kind. It’s one and original.” Regalia builds connection. Behind each piece of clothing or jewelry, there is a story, a connection to culture and community. When you see someone wearing regalia, Velasquez encourages you to reach out and ask about their story. She highlights that every detail in regalia has a purpose and symbolism. She states, “That’s what’s so exciting about wearing it! When you wear it, wear it proudly!” because each piece is embedded with deep feelings crafted with intention.
Velasquez and Cruz believe that creating contemporary regalia is both a grounding and spiritual experience. Each piece comes to life as they bead and sew with kindness, sweet intentions, and nourishing thoughts. With each stitch, each bead, the piece becomes alive. It breathes with memories and history. Velasquez states, “It’s all culture-based… it’s trusting your intuition” and embedding wellness into your craft. “The earrings you wear come alive… everything you wear comes alive.” Recently, Velasquez made a long-skirt with material her grandmother gifted her that was once her great-grandmother’s. By working with this material, she feels a connection to her great-grandmother; she feels her closeness as she feeds the fabric through the sewing machine.
In a similar light, Cruz describes the experience of sewing her T’ dress, a traditional dress worn specifically amongst Southern Utes. The fabric is dazzling as it sparkles, catching the light whenever she sways or dances. She wanted it to be, “contemporary, bougie, girly, but also traditional.” It was a family-focused project. Cruz states, “All the women in my family sat together to make our T’ dresses.” Her T’ dress has become one of her most cherished possessions.
Velasquez and Cruz carry their heads high and wear their regalia with beaming pride, knowing that they walk with strength and the reminder of all those who came before them.
Each piece comes to life as they bead and sew with kindness