Sage Mountainflower
Sage Mountainflower is a visionary Indigenous fashion designer and beadwork artist from Ohkay Owingeh, Taos Pueblo, and Diné. As the founder of the Sage Mountainflower House of Fashion in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico, she is redefining Indigenous fashion by blending ancestral knowledge with bold contemporary expression. Her mission is clear and unapologetic: to create Indigenous fashion that transcends boundaries while honoring the cultural lineages that shaped her.
Raised in a family deeply rooted in creativity and traditional arts, Sage grew up surrounded by makers, storytellers, and innovators. That foundation continues to guide her work today. Her designs weave together the teachings of her homelands with modern silhouettes, resulting in garments that are both culturally grounded and fashion-forward.
Her journey as a designer began in Southern California, where she was gifted a sewing machine while living on tribal lands. What started as a way to create traditional clothing for her children quickly evolved into a calling. In 2014, she stepped onto the Indigenous fashion stage at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Native Contemporary Clothing Contest during Santa Fe Indian Market—and she has been rising ever since.
Sage’s work has been showcased across Indian Country, throughout the United States, and internationally. Her designs have graced runways at Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Houston Fashion Week, and SWAIA Fashion Week in Santa Fe. Her artistry has earned recognition and awards at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market in Phoenix and at SWAIA Indian Market in Santa Fe.
In Spring 2025, Sage celebrated a major milestone with her first solo exhibition at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her 2024 Protected Collection is currently featured in the “Native American Fashion – From Roots to Runway” exhibit video at the Museum of World Culture (Världskulturmuseet) in Gothenburg, Sweden, on view from April 11, 2025 through November 2, 2026.
Today, Sage Mountainflower continues to push Indigenous fashion into new realms—rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and guided by the stories of her people. Her work stands as a testament to cultural resilience, artistic evolution, and the power of Indigenous creativity on the global stage.
Evening Song for the Water Cape
This stunning garment is a modern tribute to traditional Southwest craftsmanship, blending the structured silhouette of a traditional Pueblo manta with contemporary materials and celestial symbolism. The "Evening Song for the Water" cape is a narrative piece, designed to evoke the transition from earth to sky. The cape is a narrative piece, designed to evoke the precise moment when the day moves to the night.
The color choice is the heartbeat of this piece. The deep, rich red wool and shimmering crimson satin lining are not merely aesthetic choices; they represent the vivid reflection of water as the sun sets. This "liquid fire" effect creates a warm, grounded foundation for the cooler tones of the flora and the brilliance of the stars above.
Every detail on the Sage Mountainflower cape is intentional, designed to catch the light and tell a story of the evening sky. The applique work includes hand-cut floral faux suede in a bright cyan teal creates a striking contrast against the red "water." These motifs represent the life that blooms at the water's edge. The four large, iridescent abalone shell buttons secure the front. Their natural mother-of-pearl luster mimics the shimmering surface of the water under the rising moon. The upper chest and collar are adorned with gold rivets arranged in a delicate V-shape. These are specifically placed to "shine as stars," bringing the vastness of the night sky to the shoulders of the wearer. The high, structured collar and functional arm-slits provide a modern, wearable twist on the classic wrap-around style of the Pueblo manta.
Beaded Blue Bird Medallion
This striking blue bird pendant is meticulously hand‑crafted using size 11 seed beads and shimmering cut‑glass beads, creating a vibrant, dimensional design that captures both movement and spirit. Each bead is placed with precision to bring the bird’s form to life, from the soft gradients of blue to the bold outlines that define its wings and silhouette. The pendant is backed with baby blue designer leather, giving the piece a refined finish and ensuring durability while maintaining comfort against the skin. It hangs from a dentalium shell chain, adding an elegant, organic texture that complements the beadwork and honors ancestral materials. Together, these elements create a powerful fusion of tradition, artistry, and contemporary Indigenous design—an expressive statement piece that carries both beauty and cultural resonance.