Seminole patchwork, referred to by

Seminole The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, an ...

and

Miccosukee The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida is a federally recognized Native American tribe in the U.S. state of Florida. They were part of the Seminole nation until the mid-20th century, when they organized as an independent tribe, receiving fed ...

women as Taweekaache (''design'' in the

Mikasuki language The Mikasuki, Hitchiti-Mikasuki, or Hitchiti language is a language or a pair of dialects or closely related languages that belong to the Muskogean languages family. Mikasuki was spoken by around 290 people in southern Florida. Along with the Co ...

), is a

patchwork Patchwork or "pieced work" is a form of needlework that involves sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design. The larger design is usually based on repeating patterns built up with different fabric shapes (which can be different colors) ...

style made from piecing colorful strips of fabric in horizontal bands. Seminole patchwork garments are often trimmed with a

rickrack Rickrack is a flat piece of braided trim, shaped like a zigzag. It is used as a decorative element in clothes or curtains. Before the prevalence of sewing machines and overlockers, rickrack was used to provide a finished edge to fabric, and its ...

border. Early examples of this technique are known from photographs in the 1910s, and its use by Seminole women in garment construction began to flourish in the 1920s. Seminole patchwork has historically been an important source of income for many Seminole women, and today remains a source of cultural pride. Fashion designers, including

Donna Karan Donna Karan (, born Donna Ivy Faske), also known as "DK", is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels. Early life Karan was born Donna Ivy Faske to mother Helen "Queenie" Faske (née Rabin ...

, have been criticized for their appropriation of this patchwork style.

Gallery

File:Seminole patchwork shawl.jpg, Seminole patchwork fringed dance shawl, ca. 1980s, by Susie Cypress (Seminole Tribe of Florida) from the Big Cypress Reservation, Florida File:Ruby Jumper Billie- Big Cypress Reservation, Florida (8790883947).jpg, Ruby Jumper Billie: Big Cypress Reservation, Florida. Florida Memory, Set 72157633485327257, ID 8790883947, State Library and Archives of Florida. File:Seminole clothing & artifacts, NMAI.jpg, Seminole patchwork, Museum of the American Indian - Heye Foundation (MAI), ~1960. Photographer: Carmelo Guadagno (Jimmy Guadagno) File:Iajacket.JPG, Seminole patchwork jacket worn by

Iron Arrow Honor Society The Iron Arrow Honor Society is an honor society at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida for students, faculty, staff and alumni. It is the highest honor that can be bestowed by the university. Founded at the University of Miami in 1 ...

members, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.

References

{{Decorative arts Needlework Textile techniques Textile arts Seminole culture