“America’s original art and design is Native American design,” says Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee, Athabascan), CEO of one of America’s fastest growing Native-owned businesses, Eighth Generation. “Real Native art can connect you to the place you live, to the values you care about, and to the thriving Native community that’s so brilliantly making our shared world a better place. And through a Native-owned business like Eighth Generation, every person has the chance to bring real Native art and design into their home.” 

Eighth Generation, a Seattle-based blanket and home goods brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, emphasizes the importance of supporting Native artists with their 100% Native-designed product line. One of the company’s founding principles was to fight cultural appropriation by claiming space in the market for authentic cultural art; that way customers could appreciate Native art while supporting the Native artists and communities those designs came from. 

Eighth Generation is best known for their wool blankets, of which they currently have 31 different designs by Native artists across the US and Canada. Their line also includes a variety of home goods, housewares, and accessories, each sharing the beauty of Native art and symbols. Several of Eighth Generation’s products are made in their studio in the Georgetown neighborhood, including their Gold Label Collection of luxury Merino wool blankets and scarves. 

“It’s so inspiring to do this work,” says Colleen. “When people purchase from Eighth Generation, they’re really shopping their values. They’re affirming that supporting authentic Native art—not the fake “Native-insipred” stuff you see a lot of—is important to them. They’re saying ‘I care about artists and authenticity and building wealth in the Native community’ with their purchase. It’s a great way to be an ally to the Native community, and of course have beautiful art and meaningful home goods in your space. 

What’s next? “We have so many exciting new pieces coming to our store this year, including a selection of rugs by Ts’msyen/Tsimshian artist Kandi McGilton, a collection of jewelry by one of the hottest tattoo artists in the country, Shoshone-Bannock artist Kira Murillo, and some wool shawls by three different Native artists that are going to be really special.” While the majority of Eighth Generation’s business is done online, it has a modern and bright flagship store in Downtown Seattle just steps from Pike Place Market on First Avenue. Later this summer, the business is opening a store at SeaTac Airport, so shoppers can buy on the fly and grab an authentically-Seattle souvenir. 

“We have so many great products and different designs, it’s really easy to incorporate authentic Native design into your home, no matter what your style is,” shares Colleen. “No matter what you buy—a really bold blanket for your bed, or a subtly-patterned mug for your morning coffee— there’s a way Native art can be part of your home.”