INTERVIEW: LEHI THUNDER VOICE EAGLE

Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle reclaims and repurposes the iconic Navajo brim hat, which reuses and honors all elements of creation.

Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle, who’s of Diné and Totonoc descent, grew up far from a city’s buzzing life. “Most of my life was spent in nature, living off the land,” he recalls. “With that came many parts of the foundation of understanding my culture: stories, skills, and knowledge.” This experience bleeds into the fashion and art that Thunder Voice Eagle creates, which is also the foundation of his company, Thunder Voice Hat Co. Known for its rustic, high-quality hats, Thunder Voice Hat Co. is Thunder Voice Eagle’s venture into the fashion world. Lehi started the company after finding out the damaging effects of fast fashion. “Because, like you, we’re learning about the massive impact fast fashion, mass production, and disposal of clothing has on Mother Earth,” Thunder Voice Eagle says. “Instead of consuming more resources, we find ways to reuse what we have been given already.” Thunder Voice grew up listening to his parents talk about how sacred animals are, and that Creator gave us ways to sustain our earthly experience. “Beautiful buckskin shirts were made, intricately-beaded moccasins, long wood bows, medicines and teas, and many other creations were used and never discarded.” To honor this cycle of life, Lehi searches for the finest reclaimed vintage hats, discarded leather, old coins, vintage t-shirts, and jewelry in his travels. Discarded elements are combined to make the vast array of Thunder Voice Eagle Co. hats, jewelry, and apparel. “They are a statement of how we can reuse and honor all elements of creation.” Thunder Voice Eagle and his team reclaim and repurpose the iconic Navajo brim hat, which has spanned through the ages, as a reminder of generations past. Each hat is vintage hand-sourced, steamed and shaped, creatively visioned, and lovingly made. Each hat holds stories, purpose, and the hope

that the wearer will wear it with pride and meaning. As far as we know, Thunder Voice Hat Co. is currently the only Indigenous-owned hat-maker who reclaims and repurposes hats.

How has your upbringing and culture inspired your art and your style?

Most of my life was spent in nature, living off the land and teaching youth in a wilderness therapy program. My mother and father played a significant role in passing on wilderness survival and awareness skills in our family. With that came many parts of the foundation of understanding my culture: stories, skills, and knowledge. The fashion and art I create are the outcomes of this background; learning to live between two worlds. This created a new, contemporary blend of the ancient and modern.

How do you integrate traditional storytelling and ancestral teachings with modern mediums for your art?

I integrate storytelling and ancestral teachings through both representations in my paintings and reclaiming in my hats and fashion. I reclaim every element of the hats and use what is commonly discarded as a reminder that everything is sacred. The plants and animals are sacred, you are sacred, and we are sacred. I represent through my art. Some of the paintings I create are re-imagined iconic images. Shifting the storyline through representation, and finding the ways to reframe and reclaim pieces of history that have been given less visual recognition and attention. It is a way that allows the viewer access to a history they are comfortable with, then the challenge of shifting their focus to a history that many have attempted to disregard and hide.

Two years ago, you started a hat company after realizing the damaging effects of fast fashion. What made you realize this problem? And how do you hope to contribute to a better future by upcycling hats?

When you live primarily off the land, the overabundance of material items, and their damaging impact on the earth, is painfully clear. At the same time, I know and love the traditions of clothing ourselves in ways that remind us we are sacred. We are gifted with the ability to create, reuse, repurpose, and reharmonizes with the land and the elements it provides us. The hats came out of a desire to clothe people in dignity and reclaim what already exists into something beautiful.

What is the process of upcycling your hats? How do you ensure the uniqueness and high quality of each hat?

We hand source the hats through individuals, antique stores, and flea markets. We sage them, steam them, and hand clean them. We hand shape them and let them sit in the sun. The bands are then formed out of discarded saddle leather, belts, or leather scraps. We will stitch on patches, or hammer on rivets, add antique silver coins, or turquoise findings. Finally, the elements are added to the ammo band, small reminders of the spiritual battles we fight, and the protection we choose to carry with us. These decisions are made in response to the individual hat: it’s shape, size, history, and color.

Your company donates the proceeds of sales to causes. Why is this important for your company to give back to the community through times of crisis?

Like my mother says, the Diné language is one of kinship. We are we. Investing in my family and my people has been a foundational part of my company; most of my employees are family members. When COVID-19 hit, we had an opportunity to pivot into a greater and more sustainable way of investing in my area of Navajo Nation: Gap / Bodaway. My sister Alicia Martin and her family are on the ground delivering water, supplying food, checking in with elders, and pursuing a sustainable way of filling needs every single day. We are honored to support them and follow their lead. We are nothing without our community, and we recognize that.

Do you plan on adding anything else to upcycle besides hats in the future?

Yes! Stay on the lookout for more reclaimed apparel options, shirts, and jackets. We have a lot in the works, and can’t wait to share the next season of TVHC with you.

Shop Thunder Voice Eagle Hat Co. hats and products at THUNDERVOICEHATCO.COM.

Thunder Voice Eagle’s latest hat releases. Models in photos: @rayezaragoza, @kinsalehues and @lightning_moccasins.