Fashion designs from ND woman dazzle in NYC | News, Sports, Jobs

Darline Perkins, center, a fashion designer from North Dakota, is shown with two models at a fashion show in New York City produced by Alexander Gurman. The show featured Perkins’ designs from her company, Red Lightning Couture. Photo by Alexander Gurman.

rs of two fashion shows recently in New York City.

Perkins, who lives in Bismarck and is originally from Parshall, said the first show held Sept. 11 was produced by Tasha Dwhaj and was held in the Penthouse, a building with a ballroom facing the water in New York City.

She said the second show, held Sept. 13, was produced by Alexander Gurman at a hotel in downtown Manhattan.

Both producers praised Perkins for her fashion designs and having her designs included in their shows.

The shows featured Perkins’ designs that are inspired by her Native American heritage.

wo models in a New York City fashion show produced by Alexander Gurman wear designs by Darline Perkins. Photo by Alexander Gurman.

Perkins created her company, Red Lightning Couture, about 24 years ago.

According to her biographical information, the name Red Lightning Couture came from her traditional name Red Lightning Woman. Perkins is an enrolled member of the MHA Nation.

Perkins has been working with leather, quills and other natural items for designs for many years, according to the Aug. 30, 2021, edition of The Minot Daily News.

In her biographical information, she said she began working with smaller pieces of quilled jewelry and later began working with buckskin, lambskin and moved on to working with cloth fabric. She said her clothing pieces have some quill work and that is her signature work.

“As a diabetic and cancer survivor, I began doing benefits to bring awareness, education and funding to Indian Country,” Perkins said.

Designs by Darline Perkins are inspired by her Native American heritage, as shown in this outfit worn by this model in a fashion show in New York City produced by Alexander Gurman. Photo by Alexander Gurman.

An event held in September 2021 at Bismarck, involving a partnership with Leander McDonald, president of United Tribes Technical College and UTTC, Bismarck, Perkins and Red Lightning Couture, resulted in the presentation of “Honoring the Sacred Circle,” an event to raise awareness for Mother Earth, climate change and the environment, according to the Aug. 30, 2021, edition of The Minot Daily News. The event included a fashion show with Perkins’ designs.

According to Perkins’ biographical information, her work has taken her to various parts of the country to present her designs, including the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada, and on the Fort Berthold Reservation. She also was the designer chosen for the Red Carpet Walk and for the fashion show for the Indigenous Music Awards in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Perkins said she has made quilled pieces for those including Nashville artists Alan Jackson and Dwight Yoakim, daredevil motorcycle jumper Robbie Knievel and “Grizzly Adams” actor Dan Haggerty.

Darline Perkins, center, a fashion designer from North Dakota, is shown with two models at a fashion show in New York City produced by Alexander Gurman. The show featured Perkins’ designs from her company, Red Lightning Couture. Photo by Alexander Gurman.

wo models in a New York City fashion show produced by Alexander Gurman wear designs by Darline Perkins. Photo by Alexander Gurman.

Designs by Darline Perkins are inspired by her Native American heritage, as shown in this outfit worn by this model in a fashion show in New York City produced by Alexander Gurman. Photo by Alexander Gurman.