JBT Classic Elk Tooth Collection
Elk teeth adornment on clothing holds profound cultural significance among the Shoshone and Many Plains tribes, serving as a symbol of wealth, status, and spiritual connection. Elk ivories (the two upper canines) were prized for their rarity, as each elk yields only two, making them valuable markers of hunting prowess and familial prosperity. For the Shoshone and Plains tribes like the Crow, Lakota and Cheyenne, dresses adorned with elk teeth often reflected a woman’s social standing, with the quantity of teeth signaling the number of elk harvested by her male relatives, thereby highlighting their role as providers. Beyond material wealth, elk teeth carried spiritual weight, embodying the elk’s strength and endurance, and are believed to offer protection or blessings to the wearer. Aesthetically, the ivory’s contrast against tanned hides enhanced ceremonial and everyday garments, blending artistry with cultural identity. While practices varied, both groups shared themes of reverence for the elk’s gifts, intertwining ecological resourcefulness with community honor.
In contemporary fashion, elk teeth adornments have transcended their traditional roots to appear in modern designs, though their use often remains deeply tied to Indigenous cultural reclamation and artistic expression. JBT’s classic elk tooth fashion collection incorporates elk ivories into haute couture and wearable art, blending ancestral motifs with contemporary aesthetics. These pieces honor heritage while asserting Indigenous identity in a modern context, often making bold statements about resilience and cultural continuity.
Outside Indigenous circles, elk teeth occasionally surface in bohemian or "tribal-inspired" fashion, though such uses risk cultural appropriation if divorced from their original context. Ethical designers may opt for synthetic replicas or ethically sourced materials to avoid exploiting wildlife or sacred symbols. Meanwhile, Indigenous artisans continue to innovate, using elk teeth in jewelry, accessories, and even high-fashion collaborations, often paired with beadwork, quillwork, or metals.
For many wearers today—Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike—these adornments evoke a connection to nature and history, though Indigenous creators emphasize their responsibility to educate about the teeth’s spiritual and communal origins. In this way, elk ivories endure as both a timeless symbol and a dynamic medium for cultural storytelling in the 21st century.
