Erik Brodt and Amanda Bruegl, Doctors; Co-founders, Ginew
From Ginew:
“Ginew is owned and operated by husband and wife, Erik and Amanda. They are from Wisconsin and live in Portland, Oregon. Their family story is a contemporary Native American narrative, with each item they make drawing direct inspiration from their cultures and relatives.
Ginew jointly crafted the first series of belts from their wedding buffalo, which was hunted, prepared, tanned, and hand-dyed by them with their families. Ginew’s leather goods are made with pre-industrial methods, heirloom leather-working tools, and patterns handed down from generation to generation, since the 1880’s. Their leather belts are meticulously crafted using either Horween® or Herman Oak® leathers and finished with some of the finest forged brass buckles.
Ginew incorporates family symbols and teachings into their garments, while constructing them of the finest American made materials. Selvedge denim, wax canvas, and Pendleton® wool blanket fabric are some of the premium fabrics they use.
“Minobimaadiziiwin” – “Yohahi-yo sathahita?n” are philosophies in their tribes which embodies the concept to live in a good way. Simply put, LIVE WELL. Erik and Amanda choose to live intentionally with the adventurous spirit of their relatives and invite you to join the adventure.”
Shondina Lee, Influencer
From Vogue:
“The Navajo creative—who is based in (and grew up on) a small community on the Navajo reservation—currently splits her time as a creative director, model, stylist, and photographer.”
Louie Gong, Founder, Eighth Generation
From Eighth Generation:
“Louie Gong (M.Ed) is an artist, educator and public speaker who was raised by his grandparents in the Nooksack tribal community. Although he is best known for his highly sought after, hand-drawn custom shoes, Louie has received international recognition for a body of work that – like his mixed heritage (Nooksack/Chinese/French/Scottish) – defies categorization.
A former Child and Family Therapist, Louie started addressing racial and cultural identity professionally in 2001. He went on to become President of MAVIN, a national non-profit that raises awareness about mixed race people and families. His commentary on race and cultural identity has been featured, in MSNBC.com, The New York Times, NBC Nightly News and BBC. He continues to serve on the Advisory Board of MAVIN and Mixed in Canada.
Louie has spent most of his career in higher education, working on behalf of low income, first generation students, first at the University of Washington’s Educational Opportunity Center (TRiO) and then at Muckleshoot Tribal College.
Louie is also the founder of Eighth Generation, through which he merges traditional Coast Salish art with icons from popular culture and influences from his mixed heritage to make strong statements about identity. His trend-setting aesthetic has been featured at the Smithsonian’s NMAI, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the cover of Native People’s Magazine. This is remarkable considering that Louie is a self-taught artist who began making art in 2008. (read more)“
