PAMELA BAKER’S LEGACY IN FASHION STEMS FROM HER HERITAGE
By: Erica Commisso
During her four-plus decades in the fashion industry, designer and artist Pamela Baker has lived by a quote by T. Harv Eker: "If you do things easy in life, life will be hard. If you do hard things in life, life will be easy." Her brand, Touch Of Culture Legends House Of Design, draws heavily on her roots as a Squamish/Kwakiutl member, using her Indigenous heritage to create wearable art and custom fashion designs.
“I’m inspired by my family and the traditions taught to me by my mother and father and the strong history of my ancestors,” Baker says. That inspiration means dramatic and flattering silhouettes, striking colors and unique patterns take center stage, and it means a near-constant evolution and growth of her craft and skill set, including upgrading her techniques with embellishment and fabric printing.
Source: Pamela Baker
But the through line in Baker’s work in fashion is education. She hopes that people can use her custom-made designs as an entry point to learning about her culture and Indigenous heritage in the United States, and she hopes that her career path can serve as a sort of educational blueprint for designers of the future.
Her work is a very clear homage to her roots, and Baker hopes that the fashion industry as a whole makes room for more voices like hers. “I hope my designs inspire people to learn about the history of our art and the design of the great North West Coast, as well as the Nations I come from, so we can stand proud and confident once again,” Baker says. “The fashion industry needs to recognize the First Peoples of this country, and learn how to uplift and share qualified designers, and possibly work on collaborations and space. Coordinate showcases inviting designers who can fulfill orders and share connections and funding to be able to invite buyers. There is so much that can be done.”
Source: Pamela Baker
Baker completed her BFA at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, and she’s used her entire career to blend couture with culture, amplifying her roots in a way that’s still high fashion and worthy of attention in magazines like Vogue. And she hopes that her career trajectory and conviction in her design values can inspire future designers, too.
“Being in this industry for many years, I have seen so much growth in this tough industry, where the youth are recognizing their identity and want to share and uplift their communities,” she says. And her best advice for them? “Practice your craft, work on finishing. Take as many courses as possible, including sewing, and learn your history and what designs you can share from your background.” And she says events like the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) Fashion Week are a perfect stepping stone to allow more young and inspired voices to enter the fashion industry, and amplify voices like hers – ones that have existed for decades with a clear and empowering message to share.