Ribbon Skirts

History of Ribbon Skirts - Ribbon skirts are historical and traditional clothing that honor First Nations heritage and help represent causes like missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. MMIW - They are considered an expression of history, resilience and character, but aren't necessarily only for ceremonies like powwows, events and funerals.

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The exact origin of ribbon work appliqué is unknown, but by the beginning of the 19th century, Europeans had observed this unique style of decoration among several tribes. The first recorded instance of ribbon work appliqué was on a Menominee wedding dress made in 1802. Ribbon work reached its peak in the last quarter of the 19th century, having moved out from its epicenter in the Great Lakes to several tribes in the Prairies, Plains, and Northeast.