Intertribal Life Newspaper -

When we think about Native American fashion design, traditional aesthetics usually come to mind-intricate beading, fringe and feathers, silver and turquoise-elements that have deviated little over time. Taos Pueblo heritage designer and style-maker Patricia Michaels, however, has taken her edgy, sophisticated one-of-a-kind fashions into the mainstream.

In spring 2012, the native of Taos, New Mexico gained national acknowledgment for her designs when she appeared on the television show, Project Runway.

Although she was not declared winner in the competition featuring 16 promising fashion d...