From war zones to the fashion capital: Purple Heart recipient Rose McFadden prepares for Milan Debut

Posted by Krista Allen | Aug 14, 2025 | People |

BIDÁÁ’ HA’AZT’I’

The explosion came without warning. A mortar round slammed into the Baghdad base where Rose McFadden was stationed during her second deployment, injuring her spine, damaging her brain, and leaving her unable to walk.

Courtesy | Rose McFadden, Isabella Rose Design Co.
Models showcase statement earrings from Isabella Rose Design Co.

Doctors told her the damage would be permanent. The Army career she had built – and the life she had envisioned – was suddenly gone.

“I came out of that knowing there’s nothing worse that could happen to me now,” McFadden said. “It changed everything. It pushed me toward a purpose that builds community and uplifts others.”

For her injuries and service, McFadden was awarded the Purple Heart, a recognition she carries with both pride and humility.

Courtesy | Rose McFadden, Isabella Rose Design Co.
A model showcases jewelry from Isabella Rose Design Co.

Next month, that purpose will take the Diné designer to one of the most prestigious stages in the fashion world: Milan Fashion Week. The founder of Isabella Rose Design Co. will present her work alongside Chippewa Cree designer Rebekah Jarvey on Sept. 28 at the Chiostri Di San Barnaba in Milan, Italy – a 15th-century cloister where sunlight filters through arched stone walkways, casting warm shadows on the terracotta tiles. In the courtyard, the scent of lemon blossoms drifts through the air as models and designers move between fittings, racks of garments, and the low murmur of international press.

To read the full article, please see the Aug. 14, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.

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