Features
Dwayne Clauschee
Interview with Fashion Designer:
Dwayne Clauschee of Nizhoni
Way Apparel
Dwayne Clauschee of Nizhoni Way Apparel hails from
Canyon De Chelly in Arizona. Dwayne (Navajo), who
decidedly turned 28 for the
“fifth year in a row”, has been
designing apparel for over a
decade.
Dwayne knew it was “home”
when he entered his first design class at American Intercontinental University (AIU)
in Los Angeles. ”I’ve been
designing since I was 16 but I
took it seriously when I first
attended AIU. I think I felt
like I was really meant to do
it when I started at AIU. Most
of my training comes from
12
the classes I took there. Everything
from tailoring to children’s wear.”
Currently, Dwayne works with the next
generation of fashion design. He works
with students who would like to pursue
fashion as a career by
mentoring them as
they produce their own
fashion line. Dwayne’s
line, Nizhoni Way
Apparel appeared in
the Native Xpo presentation in Window
Rock in June this year
(2007) . . . which is
where we met.
“
I can bring people's dreams of
the perfect outfit to life. I think
that's the one thing I like the
most . . .
How did you get started?
I started by designing for Barbie. I use
to make little outfits for my niece’s Barbie dolls when I was about 10. When I
turned 16, I started making outfits for
myself. When I attended AIU, I use to
work as a dresser, which gave me the
www.redhoneymag.net
opportunity to work behind the
scenes at a couple of design houses such as Halston and Escada. It
was my responsibility to press and
steam $50,000 couture gowns for
Archive Edition 2013
”
potential clients. It really gave me
insight as to garment construction.
After moving back to the Navajo
Reservation, I took a job at a local
clothing boutique. I was in charge
of pattern making and did some
designing. Navajo Tribal officials,
City officials, and Miss Onawa Lacy
were but a few clients. The designs I
introduced sparked interested into
a label that people were ready to