Minnetonka redesigns iconic Thunderbird moccasin with Native American designer

On the eve of NYFW, heritage brand Minnetonka presented the biggest relaunch event in their 78-year history, unveiling the redesign of their iconic moccasin originally launched in 1953, the Thunderbird. Now renamed the ‘Animikii’ which means “Thunderbird” in Ojibwemowin, its beadwork was designed by Red Lake Nation Anishinaabeg citizen and designer Lucie Skjefte who also owns the copyright of the shoe. Skjefte, a graphic artist known for working in bright colors with details that reflect her community, is determined to continue the incorporation of more Native American terms into the fashion vernacular, saying in a statement:“If we can pronounce Louis Vuitton or Givenchy, why can’t we learn to pronounce Animikii?”