Betty David | |
---|---|
![]() Betty David dressing a mannequin | |
Born | 1938 |
Died | August 31, 2007 |
Nationality | Spokane |
Education |
University of Oregon Marylhurst University |
Occupation | fashion designer |
Betty David (1938 – August 31, 2007) was a Native American fashion designer renowned for her handmade coats and leather goods.
David was born in Nespelem, Washington; she attended the University of Oregon and Marylhurst College. [1] She was enrolled as a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Wellpinit, Washington. [1]
In the 1970s, she received a shearling coat as a gift and decided she could design a better one. [2] She first began selling her hand-sewn coats decorated with painted designs in, in David's own words, "Northwest Coast Indian style," at the Santa Fe Art Market. [2] She had a loft studio in Seattle's Pioneer Square and had a traveling trunk show. She later sold her work at galleries in Spokane and New York City and received attention in major publications. [3] [4] [5] [6]
Her work was acquired by the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evanston, Illinois and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. [1] [7]
David described her designs as bridging the divide between nature and abstraction: "'I'm inspired by animals and parts of animals, but I'm not trying to make critters. They're abstract ... It's a new totem pole look.'" [5]
Betty David | |
---|---|
![]() Betty David dressing a mannequin | |
Born | 1938 |
Died | August 31, 2007 |
Nationality | Spokane |
Education |
University of Oregon Marylhurst University |
Occupation | fashion designer |
Betty David (1938 – August 31, 2007) was a Native American fashion designer renowned for her handmade coats and leather goods.
David was born in Nespelem, Washington; she attended the University of Oregon and Marylhurst College. [1] She was enrolled as a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, Wellpinit, Washington. [1]
In the 1970s, she received a shearling coat as a gift and decided she could design a better one. [2] She first began selling her hand-sewn coats decorated with painted designs in, in David's own words, "Northwest Coast Indian style," at the Santa Fe Art Market. [2] She had a loft studio in Seattle's Pioneer Square and had a traveling trunk show. She later sold her work at galleries in Spokane and New York City and received attention in major publications. [3] [4] [5] [6]
Her work was acquired by the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evanston, Illinois and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. [1] [7]
David described her designs as bridging the divide between nature and abstraction: "'I'm inspired by animals and parts of animals, but I'm not trying to make critters. They're abstract ... It's a new totem pole look.'" [5]