Joanne Miles-Long, Designer
Joanne is San Carlos Apache and Akimel O’Otham. A two-time graduate of Grand Canyon University, she earned a bachelors and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). She resides in Komatke, AZ, Gila River Indian Community, with her husband, Gary and their family. She is the daughter of a master traditional dressmaker, the late Marjorie Miles of San Carlos AZ, and the late David N. Miles, of the Gila River Indian Community, a World War II recipient of the Purple Heart and 2 Bronze Stars. Joanne was born to the Walnut Tree People.
Joanne began sewing under the direction of her mother and elder sister, Norma, both accomplished designer seamstresses in their own right. She has continued the art of traditional dressmaking but has expanded her repertoire towards modern day clothing with the traditional overlay of various embellishments, cuts and form typically used in the traditional cloth dresses of her mother and sister, as well as other indigenous nations.
These dresses can often be worn with confidence in the Board room and later perhaps into ceremonial grounds, pow-wows, or many places of any liking. The colors and fabrics are combined to reveal a balance of lifestyle needs and requirements. Materials used are vintage restored or modern day restyled and redesigned to create the unique look of Joanne’s brand, RRR.RAID. The R’s standing for restored, restyled, redesigned, recycled, etc. Thus, no two dresses or article of clothing will ever be the same.
RRR.RAID is a concept of the original cloth dress developed from the raiding that occurred earlier on when the pioneers were coming west for gold and other “goods”. As we did back then, RAID is still doing today. Taking the modern-day fashion and fabrics then making them ours. In addition, we do have a responsibility and perhaps an innate desire to show respect to our mother earth by using these items wisely, with a high regard to not wasting what Creator and the earth has provided for us.
RRR.RAID can be found on Instagram. Joanne can be reached at jmileslong@icloud.com and/or at 602-820-4475.