Important upcoming dates
About the investor’s circle
Join former OFW Producer Brook Hudson and Casting Director & Owner of Develop Model Management, Alyssa Dilts, in directly supporting local designers! These two long-time friends have collaborated for many years on programs that enrich the Omaha fashion scene. They share a passion for supporting designers in the earliest stage of their development which has led to collaborations such as Omaha Fashion Camp, and now the OFW Investor’s Circle.
With a combined experience of 35 years in working with designers, these two women know that even a gift of a few hundred dollars given at the right time can be transformational. Such a gift allows a designer to upgrade fabrics, notions and equipment, making the final result a higher quality product that is more likely to sell. We are excited to introduce the OFW Investor’s Circle, which will provide unrestricted grants to qualifying designers. We invite you to join the Circle today and support the fashion ecosystem here in Omaha. Keep scrolling to see how it works:
The Grants
Work is being done to raise money which will be divided into a set of $500 grants that will be made available to designers who have been selected into OFW. Grants will be given on a competitive basis and will require designers to pitch their collection to investors in the fund, who will then vote on grant recipients.
The Fund
Members of the public are invited to invest for a limited period of time in a fund that will be divided into $500 grants. If we raise $1000, we will give two grants. If we raise $2500, we will give five grants. In the event that there is an odd amount in the fund, OFW will round it up to a $500 increment, ensuring the fund can be cleared out each season. Any investment amount is welcome. All who invest will be able to vote on which designer receives a grant, regardless of the amount invested.
The Pitch
Investors will be invited to attend a Designer Pitch Session, which will take place on Zoom. Each designer who is vying for a grant will have 5 minutes to pitch their collection and demonstrate why they should receive a grant. Investors will have one minute between pitches to vote yes or no via a web form. Designers will be awarded grants based on who receives the most Yeses until the money runs out. If there is enough money for five grants, the top five designers who received the most yeses will receive grants.
The Preview
Investors will have an opportunity to see the result of their investment at an exclusive Preview event which will happen one week before runway shows begin. Designers will be on hand to talk with investors about their collections. Investors have a unique invitation to place orders on items they like before they hit the runway. As is customary with an OFW event…champagne will be flowing!