Alumni
Grad Robin Cote To Host INDIGEN-US Fashion Show in DTLA March 5th
In promotion of the upcoming launch of her new indigenous fashion and lifestyle magazine, Coté Magazine, Visual Communications graduate and Native American Robin Cote is hosting a fashion show, INDIGEN-US, on March 5th in DTLA featuring Native American Designer K.Lookinghorse. Taking place at 20FT Bear Studios, the show will feature the limited collection Lonewolf X Lookinghorse (GENERATION ONE by LXL), a Native American and African American women-owned clothing and accessory collaboration. "I've been on a mission to create space in the industry here in LA for Native American fashion. I will be officially launching Coté Magazine this April and I could not be happier that it's finally happening." The fashion show is part of a larger album release party for She-Rōze, a Filipina-Cuban American Hip Hop artist. Robin, who is currently pursuing her B.A. Creative Industry Studies, Graphic Design Core degree, also recently styled a commercial for ABC, a PSA for Native American Heritage Month that aired on national television for the month of November. We caught up with her to learn more.
Tell us about the INDIGEN-US Fashion Show coming up on Saturday, March 5th: I had been hired to style a few music videos in January for a rising female hip hop artist by the name of She-Rōze. She-Rōze is a Filipina-Cuban American Hip Hop artist who grew up internationally as a military kid. I am also a military veteran. While working with her and having conversations about my goals she invited me to host the fashion show segment at her album release party which is to take place on March 5th at 20FT BEAR STUDIOS from 2-6 pm. What's more unique about this album is that proceeds from it are going towards funding the Shero Collective, a women-led nonprofit organization she developed that is dedicated to supporting cultural advocacy, economic empowerment, and uplifting our communities. This is where our goals aligned. My mission is to also create economic empowerment for the Native American community within the fashion and beauty industries and I plan to do this with the development of Coté Magazine.LA.
I named it Coté Magazine because it is not only my last name but it is the name of my reservation Cote First Nations which is located in Saskatchewan Canada. Coté is also the last name of my great great great grandfather Chief Gabriel Cote who was part French. He played a major role in the signing of the Treaties in Canada during the late 1800s.
I was so excited and delighted when She-Rōze offered her platform to help promote the magazine launch which will be on April 27, 2022. As for now, the magazine is an online platform that will focus on highlighting Native/Indigenous artists locally as well as internationally. After the launch, I will be expanding my business to open a one-of-a-kind fashion PR showroom here in LA that will house authentic Native American designers. As soon as I was offered the space to create a fashion show I immediately reached out to the emerging designer Kayla Looking Horse of K.lookinghorse. She is Hunkpapa Lakota and a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Her limited-edition collection Lookinghorse X Lonewolf is a collaboration with activist and community organizer YoNasDa Lonewolf who is Oglala Lakota/Black indigenous.
Working toward bridging the gap and amplifying authentic inspired Native American design NOT native-inspired design in the fashion industry. Native X African fashion is rooted in culture and tradition.
Rampant cultural appropriation has been taking place over the past century and we are now finally in a time where we can be whomever we choose to be and empower ourselves in these industries by creating our own businesses, partnerships, and collaboration with one another.
Tell us about the commercial you styled for ABC: I am Native American and I've always dreamed of being a stylist for fashion and television. My mission since I moved out here to Los Angeles was to gain more representation for indigenous fashion on the red carpets as well as in the film and entertainment industry. While it hasn't been easy I've maintained and stayed the course. Finally, after the pandemic shutdowns and feeling unsure if I wanted to stay in LA any longer I received a phone call from Native American Director Christopher Nataanii Cegielski specifically seeking a Native American Fashion Stylist for the Native American Heritage Month PSA which aired on ABC all through the month of November 2021. View the commercial here.
For more information about the INDIGEN-US Fashion Show on March 5th, click here.
Follow Coté Magazine.LA on Instagram @cotemagazine.la and subscribe at Cotemagazine.LA.
Categories: Creative Industry Studies Visual Communication Alumni Military Veteran Student
