Navajo Dustin Martin “Point Lips” The Navajo Way

O’siyo. Navajo designer Dustin Martin, lives in Albuquerque, N.M., and attends Columbia University in New York City. He recently started his own clothing line which includes beautiful Native American images and motifs. His company name is S.O.L.O. (Sovereign Original Land Owners) and his designs can be seen (and bought) at Beyond Buckskin Boutique.

Cavalry Tee by Navajo artist Dustin Martin. Photo- Beyond Buckskin

Excerpt: Point Lips, Not Fingers… By Lee Allen, ICTMN

“On June 18, Paul Frank Industries announced that four Native designers had been selected to collaborate with the company on a line of products. Called “Paul Frank Presents,” the collection will debut on August 16 at the Santa Fe Indian Market. Dustin Quinn Martin, who designs T-shirts for his company S.O.L.O. (Sovereign Original Land Owners), was one of the young fashion talents who got the nod.

PREZERVE Tee by Navajo artist Dustin Martin. Photo- Beyond Buckskin.

“My contribution to the line was built on the concept ‘Point Lips, Not Fingers.’ When I was growing up, my grandfather taught me it was rude to point fingers (literally and figuratively). So, like many Navajos who grow up on the rez, I learned that pointing my lips was a polite alternative to conventional hand gestures…The design I cooked up uses a cultural quirk (lip-pointing) to embed meaning and humor into the image and remind viewers of what sparked the collaboration…

Ceci N’est Pas Un Conciliateur by Navajo artist Dustin Martin. Photo- Beyond Buckskin.

Lone Resistance Tee by Navajo artist Dustin Martin. Photo- Beyond Buckskin.

Without a doubt I’m very thankful for the opportunity. Though I now have an even better idea of how much there is for me to learn, I also know that a fashion collaboration — no matter how ‘big league’ it may appear at first — isn’t rocket science. When I was able to look past ‘Paul Frank’ and [Paul Frank Industries’ parent company] ‘Saban Brands’ to see the people behind the curtain, it became a lot like working with friends.” Read more…

“Above all, I went into this experience with this mindset: ‘This is the type of recognition and respect Native artists and designers have been praying for. Don’t Drop The Ball I hope all four of us chosen designers make Native America proud.”~ Dustin Martin~