Only FOUR WEEKS until Omaha Fashion Week kicks off another exciting season of fashion and glamour February 23rd-29th, and we’re thrilled to share more about our amazing lineup of designers!
Army veteran Duane Topping turned to fashion design as a way to fight through the struggle of PTSD. Passionate and committed to inspiring others, Duane creates unique pieces for those who want to shed labels and show their inner beauty and strength!
How did you get into fashion? Share a little about your background.
After retiring from military service in 2012, I struggled with PTSD for several years. By the fall of 2016, I had not found any success in the "cookie-cutter" programs thrown at me, so I began to think outside of the box. By this time, I was completing a degree in Gender Studies and armed with the idea that I can be more than a social construct, I latched on to an under-the-radar love of fashion. I've always been an artist, so I paired the two, and came home one day in late 2016 and told my wife, “I’m going to teach myself to sew." She asked when, I held up my new machine and said, "Right now." I sat down at a TV tray and made a purse. My first runway was the following spring in Denver, and we've grown ever since.
An avant-garde piece Topping did for NAHA this year.
Describe your brand and the feeling you want it to convey. How was your brand concept born?
I'll always be focused on the message of my journey in fashion, and it fundamentally drives my passion. That message has evolved, but it's still about not being a label and striving to show the world that there is depth beyond perception in everyone. The brand and the clothes represent that notion and the aesthetic and contrast of who I am and what I create drives that message home. You can't help but see fashion in a new light through the filter of Duane Topping as a brand.
What are your personal goals, or goals for your brand?
Our overall goal is simple, to inspire. Through the clothes, we want our customers to make a connection with the brand and find a piece of their journey in ours, and we have specific goals to accomplish that end. With our growing fan base in the Southwest and Midwest, we look to be featured in six boutiques from Phoenix to Kansas City by the end of 2020, and we’ll carry that momentum as we build into other demographics. But we will always be driven to inspire our customers to be more than a label.
A simple piece with intriguing detailing.
Describe your favorite project(s) that you have worked on.
For a few seasons, I resisted doing avant-garde designs. But, in the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to partner with a well-established hair designer for a few of those collections. I think they have been an amazing compliment to my technical skill-building, and a lot of fun to create.
Describe the collection you are creating.
I’ll be carrying a thread of my S/S 2020 collection through to the fall. Instead of using a literal translation of perspective, I’ll incorporate a metaphorical notion. Each piece will contrast the vision of winter, like the magic of flowers blooming in the snow. I will be challenging what is thought of as “traditional” winter wear with bold colors and prints, but maintain my signature details highlighting the beauty in femininity and the strength behind that. Together, the collection will subtly question our implicit biases with each other by first showing what Fall / Winter can look like.
LEFT: One of Topping’s jumpsuits. RIGHT: Simple lines with fun details.
Where did you find inspiration for your new collection?
It is only the beginnings of an idea, but it is inspired by my journey. My aesthetic is simple lines and intricate detailing, with each piece representing a chapter in my story. Thematically, I’m inspired by the Dutch artist van Gogh this year. Not his paintings, but in his letters to his brother Theo in which he spoke about perspective and how his differed from his contemporaries. Van Gogh struggled with this idea, and it heavily influenced his work across all platforms.
What are the signature styles or silhouettes of your collection? What sort of design elements can we expect from you this season?
My style is simple, with a focus on details to draw you in. I do a balanced combination of silhouettes, but I do favor jumpsuits. I’m always challenging myself both technically and creatively but look for bold colors and floral patterns, and simple lines with an invitation and innovations within the detailing. I’m going to contrast the traditional heavy fabrics of winter with some lighter cottons and crepes which I think will tie in nicely with the overall theme.
A lot of fun with zippers in this collection.
How do you balance creativity/innovation with consistency in your work?
Because everything I do creatively has a purpose, that demands consistency. There’s always a story for the collection, and each piece is a chapter or sentence in the narrative. This framework starts from the beginnings of the collection’s concept, and as they develop into tangible garments, I begin to focus on cohesion in the individual designs.
You can see Duane Topping on the runway during our EVOLVE Featured Designer Showcase on February 29th! To learn more about Duane and his work, visit his website and follow along on Facebook and Instagram as he puts the finishing touches on his collection! Snag your tickets to OFW’s Spring 2020 season today!