Native fashion designer Patricia Michaels suffers setback with flood

Tuesday, August 7, 2018  

Native fashion designer Patricia Michaels is trying to get back on her feet after losing much of her work in a flood last month.

Michaels told The Santa Fe New Mexican that she lost $70,000 worth of fabric, clothing, sewing equipment, photographs, art books and other materials after a July 23 rainstorm flooded her studio in New Mexico's capital city. The timing was terrible -- like many Native artists, she has been preparing for the huge Indian Market, which takes place next week.

“I cry in and out of this whole experience,” Michaels, who hails from Taos Pueblo, told the paper. “But at the same time, being creative, you just then bring your creativity out. The show must go on. I keep telling myself, ‘The show must go on. The show must go on.’”

Michaels shared some photos of the damage on her personal Facebook page. She said she had been out of town teaching Native students when the storm hit.

"I don't know how to tackle this alone with Indian Market around the corner," she wrote on Saturday as she sought help picking up the pieces.

Michaels rose to national fame after appearing on season 11 of the Project Runway television show. She made it all the way to the finals but came up short in the end. She later competed in Project Runway All Stars during season 4.

Read More on the Story:
‘Project Runway’ finalist sees flood destroy work (The Santa Fe New Mexican August 6, 2018)