Quannah Chasinghorse wasn’t the most A-list celebrity to walk the Met Gala Red Carpet, but her photos from the event caught fire on social media. People couldn’t get enough of her confidence, her style, and – of course – her incredible jewelry.
An Indigenous model and activist of Han Gwich’in and Oglala Lakota ancestry, Chasinghorse’s silver and turquoise jewelry was on loan from her Aunt, former Miss Navajo Nation Jocelyn Billy-Upshaw, who acquired the pieces from Navajo artists across the Southwest. On a night dedicated to the theme “America,” Chasinghorse turned to her family, her community, and her history and dazzled the world with her genuine shining pride in her Native identity.
The moment is jewelry at its most powerful: both a gorgeous adornment and a tangible representation of the powerful human connections that make us who we are.
What’s the lesson here for retailers? This up-and-coming generation of jewelry lovers prides themselves on being conscious consumers who care about where their jewelry comes from and what it says about who they are. Giving authentic context about a piece’s origin can help customers bond with the piece and want to become a part of its story.
But remember, authentic backstory only counts when it’s authentic. If this look inspires you to stock Navajo jewelry, be sure to source it from a Navajo artist.