FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Designers Selected for Omaha Fashion Week Runway Finale

Omaha, NE, July 20, 2012 – Omaha Fashion Week organizers have announced the line-up for the Runway Finale on August 25.  “This year we have made a big shift in the way we select designers for the Finale,” OFW Producer Nick Hudson said.  “We’ve waited until now to cast Saturday night designers so we could see how their collections are shaping up and select the very best looks.”  This will make the much anticipated OFW Runway Finale a “best of week” show, allowing for a broader selection of designers to be seen by thousands of attendees on the 400-ft runway than ever before.

The Fashion Institute Midwest, formerly the Omaha Fashion Institute, pulled together a selection panel of industry experts to review and evaluate designers’ collections last Saturday at the OFW Hanger Check.  Members of this panel selected 37 designers to show during the week out of 64 applicants in April.  The results have been tallied, with the following 22 designers being selected for coveted Saturday night positions:

Angela Balderston for Get Plastered Audio Helkuik Buf Reynolds Dan Richters Eliana Smith Ellene McClay for FORTRESS Fella Vaughn for Fella Hollie Hanash for Ruffled Runway JHaus Kate Walz for Just Because Jessica Hansen for Jessica Alyse KKini Leggoons Maximillian Suiter for Max Millian Terri Jen Buckner for Nuevintage Apparel & Accessories Tiffany Headley for Donna Faye Erin Thomas for Toxic Sadie

Emerging Designer Micro Collections: Elizabeth Medina Emely Valadez Lauren Birkentall Jeff Hansen Kaitlyn Fitzgerald

*This line up is subject to change as collections are finalized over the next four weeks.

Omaha Fashion Week is set for August 20-25 in Omaha’s Old Market.  Join the organization for its fifth anniversary by purchasing your tickets at www.omahafashionweek.com/tickets.  Ticket prices range from $65-$20 for weeknight seats and $120-$30 for Runway Finale seats.  VIP tables for the Finale are $1,000.

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About Omaha Fashion Week On the inside, Omaha Fashion Week is a talent incubator that seamlessly connects designers, stylists, photographers, artists and models through nurturing platforms and engaging opportunities. On the outside, Omaha Fashion Week is Midwest’s premier fashion event; spotlighting fashion innovations and celebrating creative excellence. Learn more at www.omahafashionweek.com.

About Fashion Institute Midwest The Fashion Institute Midwest, formerly the Omaha Fashion Institute, is a non-profit operating under the Omaha Community Foundation that nurtures aspiring fashion designer talent by supporting and developing the Midwest fashion ecosystem through programming that provides creative inspiration, training opportunities, resources and business incubation to unlock the creative entrepreneurial potential in our young people. Support the OFI at www.omahafashionweek.com/institute.