While the idea of Native American T-shirts may seem to be an anachronism and even an insult to the history and culture of the Native American people, actually some Native Americans are embracing the T-shirt as a way of sharing their pride in their identity and peoplehood.

Some Native American T-shirts convey controversial political messages in an entertaining way, such as a T-shirt which redefines illegal immigration as having begun with Columbus in 1492. In fact, most authentically Native American T-shirts proclaim a bold and direct message of pride in being the original inhabitants of the United States, with an undisguised message that the American settlers who arrived later are interlopers. It is as if the Native American identity is blazed in full color upon that most American of garments, the T-shirt, so that the Native American T-shirt designers are conquering the T-shirt as revenge for the settler conquest of their ancestral lands. Even if that conquest of the T-shirt is comical and entertaining ,the images and messages of Native American pride that appear on Native American T-shirts and also posters, prints and other forms of Native American art are quite direct and bold.

Yet, there are Native American Indian shirts that convey the same pride without political overtones, showing to the world an image of Native American pride that can be shared by all Americans as part of a shared, albeit painful, history. These are the T-shirts which use the image of the Native American Indian to convey strength by depicting the proud dress and expression of Native Americans of old on T-shirts, often without any particular message or with a general message such as “Pride” that has no controversial or confrontational overtones.

Regardless of their specific nature, the Native American T-shirt has become a part of the T-shirt culture of the USA even though it may be overshadowed by traditional Native American regalia, it is appreciated by those of Native American descent as well as other Americans.

Of interest to people as diverse as history buffs, people of Native American descent, and even motorcyclists and others who look to Native American clothing for protection and comfort, Native American regalia is becoming popular among collectors and is being redefined by modern Native American clothing designers and artisans.

Traditionally, Native American men wore hide tucked under a belt, and strong leather leggings. While the hide tucked under a belt, known as a broadcloth, is mostly collected by those who prize Native American regalia because of some connection to the Native American culture, leather leggings are not unlike those worn by motorcyclists and others who look to them for protection, and some action sportsmen, especially those participating in competitions or exhibitions, have indeed adopted gear based on Native American designs in honor of the brave warrior past of the Native American people.

And the leather moccasin, common in many variations as a slipper or shoe, and decorated with traditional beads, has made its way into mainstream America, to the point that few realize that their bedroom slippers or their daughters’ comfortable colored and beaded casual shoes are actually modern versions of authentic Native American regalia.  Although traditional regalia is highly sought after a more modern form of expression in the form of t-shirts is popping up frequently as a voice of expression across the country.

Today, Native American regalia has been reinvented and redesigned, not only by mainstream or protective gear manufacturers who choose Native American motifs and traditions for strength or eye appeal, but also by modern Native American designers who look to preserve those traditions through producing modern and wearable versions of Native American regalia. These modern reinventions of traditional classics include many updated versions of the traditional skirts and one piece dresses worn by Native American women, sometimes even drawing upon specific tribal designs that disappeared once various tribes began to ally and mix with each other after the arrival of American pioneers.

Then, there is the Native American regalia that is associated with movies and reproductions of historical scenes, such as feathered headdresses. Most such regalia is often manufactured for tourists, Halloween costumes, and movie sets and may or may not be of any historical or cultural import or authenticity. Still, even this type of Native American art reinforces the image of a proud, vibrant culture and history.

American Indian regalia can be as practical as leggings adopted for motorcycle wear, as appealing as beaded, colored moccasins for young girls, as up to date as couture designs based on Native American themes, or indeed as kitschy as feathered headdresses and other tourist souvenirs such as Native American posters.

Native American posters include posters which depict a real or imagined image of historical Native Americans, along with a message that could be but is not necessarily related to the figure depicted.

Sometimes, a Native American chieftain in a full headdress appears on a poster that gives advice, or even on an advertising poster, strictly to capture the attention of the audience which the poster addresses. Some Native American posters of this type include those which are used to advertise tourist attractions that are either directly connected with Native Americans or located in regions associated with Native American history. Whether such a poster is a true Native American poster that is meant to preserve the culture is debatable, but it does lead to greater awareness of the Native American culture, albeit in a superficial and commercial manner. Native American t-shirts seem to be used in the same way although some have cleverly seen the t-shirt or poster as a way to voice awareness of the plight of the Native people.

Native American posters that truly do show respect for the glory of Native American culture and history include art prints of Native American figures in harmony with nature and the land that they once dominated. For instance, the same chieftain depicted with a more authentic headdress and clothing, alongside a noble horse, may not be historically accurate even if it does illustrate the ancient Native American culture.

Then, there are Native American posters that are reproductions of themes in actual Native American art. These Native American posters are often seen in classrooms and other educational situations, since they show the art and culture of the Native American peoples in full detail but are inexpensive and easy to display.

Posters of Native Americans are found in homes and offices as well as in classrooms, for they serve as motivational and educational posters as well as in advertising and publicity, with different facets of the Native American culture featured depending upon the nature and purpose of the poster.

The present and historical works of art and expression produced by Native Americans are varied in medium and style, and thanks to this variety Native American art has always been popular among collectors, from occasional collectors who purchase art from a private artist to museum curators and owners of large private collections who constantly keep up with trends in Native American art to ensure the timeliness and completeness of their large collections.

One theme that seems to run throughout Native American art, from paintings by Hopi artists in the Southwest to pottery made by Shoshone craftspeople whose native lands are farther north, is a love for and connection to the land from which the artists stem. This can be expressed in the form of a traditional animal figure, or in a statue or amulet that is a replica of Native American earth deities of old that appeared in animal form throughout Native Indian folklore and religious worship.

In addition, Native American Indian art is known for its bold colors, and seemingly simple, yet actually painstakingly complex and delicate, patterns often featuring geometric shapes juxtaposed against one another in bright, vivid colors. This boldness and detail is what attracts many new collectors to the beauty of Native American art, which they may first encounter even as schoolchildren visiting a museum as part of study of the Native American culture.

Native American art also takes on less traditional forms, especially over the last few decades when Native American Indian artists have been commemorating and eternalizing their disappearing culture by painting the dress and scenes of even their more recent ancestors, to say nothing of the chiefs, warriors and squaws of old who sadly met their end during the expansion of the United States onto Native territory. Indeed, the compelling rationale behind the recent explosion of new Native American art and artists is the need to retain the glory of Native American history, and to share it with their descendants and other Americans in the universal language of art that so well expresses that history.

Simple yet complex, bold and bright, and most of all connected intimately to the land and history of its talented creators, Native American art is highly recognized and prized by collectors, both in the United States and abroad. Native American art is prized for its direct expressiveness in remembering the greatness of a culture that has disappeared and is often misunderstood.