Angelina Panana, a 12-year-old from Albuquerque, established a sewing business after picking up the hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to KOB 4.
Panana's new business, sixteen80connection, seeks to promote Native American representation by creating clothing for dolls that is similar to the type she wears during traditional ceremonies.
“I wanted to make clothing that looks like me for the traditional events that we do and I wanted my doll to look like me when I dress up for that,” Panana said.
The inspiration for her company came after she realized that her American Girl dolls lacked traditional Native American clothing.
“There are times I would look up, like, ‘Jemez traditional clothing’ for dolls, and there wasn’t anything,” Panana said. “All you would see is the Pocahontas, Plains Native clothing.”
Panana sews the dresses using materials she hand-selected. She also uses pieces from other Native American artists she has worked with, including handwoven belts made by a Zuni Pueblo artist, KOB 4 reported.
“There’s a lack of representation for the Pueblos out there and I want it to represent the culture where I’m from, which is Jemez and Zia,” she said. “I want it to do it in this unique way and fun way for the dolls too.”
Panana hopes she can expand her business and its impact on Native American representation as she gets older.