Delaney Wildcatt (Eastern Band Cherokee), is not new to the runway, having modeled indigenous designs in previous years. However, she credits attendance at a Native Youth conference for introducing her to the artform of beading and providing the instruction she has employed over the last year to develop her own collection. Her mother, Alica Wildcatt, is also an award-winning jewelry designer and metalsmith, serving as a significant influence in Delaney’s study.
Wildcatt is currently an undergraduate at UNC-Asheville studying Environmental Studies. Along with a keen eye for fashion and the patterns of the natural world, these academic pursuits further inform her artistic influences. As a student of native plant species, Wildcatt seeks to incorporate native botany and floral designs into her beadwork and textile designs. Wildcatt currently resides in the Birdtown Community of Cherokee, NC.
