We are excited to announce the seventeen designers who have been selected to show collections during the next season of Omaha Fashion Week February 21-26.
Designers applied and last week pitched their ideas to a panel of industry experts brought together by OFW last week. The experts scored each designer and provided feedback that OFW used to make final selections. The designers are scored on innovation, construction, marketability, concept and the overall presentation.
Highlights from interviews include focus on fashion for differently-abled individuals, fashion as a vehicle for social statements, surface design and unorthodox materials, and repurposing and deconstruction.
OFW shows are scheduled for February 21-26, 2017 at the Omaha Design Center. Here is a breakdown of the week’s schedule:
Tuesday, Feb. 21: Student Night featuring collections by students at Omaha Central High School, Omaha South High School, Nebraska 4-H, the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program at the Joslyn Art Museum and Nebraska FCCLA.Tickets are free to students who show their student ID or $10 for non-students. Blocks of complimentary tickets are available for student groups by emailing info@omahafashionweek.com. A cash prize will be awarded to the top designer.
Wednesday, Feb. 22: Methodist Survivor Show invites over 100 cancer survivors featured on the runway as models in looks provided by a large group of generous local boutiques. Part of proceeds benefit the Inner Beauty Salon at Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center.
Thursday, Feb. 23: Designer Showcase I (cash prize awarded to top designer)
· Elizabeth Scarpino, Single Handedly Liz
· Andrew Hale, Andrew Hale Designs
· Margaret Larson, Margeaux
· Sarah Mader, Modden Studios by Sarah Mader
· Christopher DiGiorgio
Friday, Feb. 24: Designer Showcase II (prize awarded to top designer)
· Miranda Hanson
· Sydney Moore, SKM Fashion
· Elayne Gibson, Fat Owl Fashion
· Judy Bales
· Aaron Sobetski
· Terri Buckner, Nuevintage
Saturday, Feb. 25: Designer Showcase III (prize awarded to top designer)
· Mitchell Henderson, Mitchell
· Madyssen Hrlevich, Madyssen Jean
· Hannah Swanson
· Makaylee Gayed
· Crystal Brakhage
· Jane Round
Sunday morning, Feb. 26 11 a.m. to 2 p.m at Omaha Design Center, join the OFW Team for a “breakfast of champions” featuring mimosas, bloody mary bar and donuts from Petit’s Bakery. Shop the collections fresh of the runway! Free and open to the public!
Sunday evening, Feb. 26: Watch the region’s top salons compete for a $3500 prize package during the Develop Model Management Beauty Show. Special group pricing is available for large groups from salons and hair schools, email info@omahafashionweek.com.
Tickets go on sale Black Friday – November 25, 2016 - at omahafashionweek.com/tickets. Headline designers and pre-show entertainment will be announced at a later date. Below is a list of designer bios and websites:
Veterans
Christopher DiGiorgio - Contemporary designer primarily focusing on menswear with ground breaking silhouettes and colors. His collection consists of a wide range of textiles including cotton sateen, denim, twill, and knits that are hand-dyed and waxed. http://www.christopherdigiorgio.com
Madyssen Hrlevich- Madyssen Jean - Student at UNL with a major in fashion merchandising. Her collection will use the poetry of F. Scott Fitzgerald and the style of iconic heroines featured in James Bond movies to portray a woman who is madly in love. https://madyssenjean.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/dfg/
Terri Buckner- Nuevintage - Terri Buckner upcycles and repurposes vintage materials into one-of-a-kind pieces under her label Nuevintage. A combination of vintage fabrics will be used to create jackets, dresses and tops in a boho winter theme. http://www.nuevintage.com
Jane Round - Jane Round is an Omaha-native turned New-Yorker working full time in the fashion industry. Her collection is inspired by the works of John Singer Sargent and the decorative arts of that same time period, such as quilting and glasswork. In addition to hand dying, she will create several custom prints for this collection. http://www.janeround.com
Judy Bales- Judy Bales Design – This Iowa-based artist creates what she calls extreme jewelry. Her fashion-as-art pieces are inspired by water and will use plastics, wire, metal and plastic grids to create dramatic pieces to be worn on the neck and shoulders. http://judybales.com
High School Students
Andrew Hale- Andrew Hale Designs- High school student from Kearney with an interest in costume design. His avant garde collection will tell a story about the character “Bip the Clown” played by famous mime, Marcel Marceau. http://andrewhaledesigns.wixsite.com/andrewhaledesigns
Mitchell Henderson- Mitchell - Mitchell is a 17 year old high school senior from Omaha. His collection is inspired by America's failing infrastructure. Garments will be layered and have multiple deconstructed elements. http://2017141.wixsite.com/mitchell
Margaret Larson- Margeaux - 16-year old Omaha high school student whose collection is inspired by the colors of the rainbow and the elusive pot of gold at its end. http://blahproductions01.wixsite.com/margeauxfashion
Miranda Hanson- Miranda Hanson – This 16-year-old Omaha designer is creating a monochromatic ready-to-wear line inspired by 80's silhouettes and fashion trends. http://mirandahanson.weebly.com
Aaron Sobetski - Aaron Sobetski is a high school student from Omaha who will showcase elaborate construction detail under his collection of black and white evening gowns using sheer fabrics and a reflective vinyl to create an X-ray effect. http://www.aaronsobetski.wix.com/aaronsobetskifashion
Sydney Moore- SKM Fashion – Omaha high school student designer who will show a collection representing the reality of high school life, focusing specifically on dress code double standards and featuring hand-written slang phrases used by students. http://www.skmfashion.com
New Comers
Sarah Mader- Modden Studios by Sarah Mader - Sarah is a senior at Iowa State University majoring in Apparel Merchandising and Design. Her collection is inspired by travels to Spain and Morocco. This resort collection incorporates digital printing and laser cutting techniques. http://samamader.wixsite.com/portfolio
Hannah Swanson - Graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in apparel design. She specializes in bridal and evening wear. Her collection will be a set of jewel-toned dresses perfect for a gala or any other winter holiday event. http://hkswanson3.wixsite.com/hannahswanson
Makaylee Gayed - Senior at UNL in the Textile, Merchandising and Fashion Design department, who will feature quilt block detailing to create unique patterns throughout the collection. http://kstutzman11.wixsite.com/makayleegayed
Sarah Wanek – Collection is titled, “Our World” and will be made with secondhand materials. Garments will feature segmentation and piecing, along with hand-knit elements from remnants or scrap fabric. http://www.SarahWanekDesigns.com
Elizabeth Scarpino- Single Handedly Liz – Designer with a Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University in Apparel Merchandising and Design who was born with a Brachial Plexus Birth Injury, causing complete paralysis to her right arm. She will present an evening wear collection using a mix of blue, green and grey hues. http://www.singlehandedlyliz.com
Crystal Brakhage - Crystal Brakhage Designs – Crystal started sewing when she was 8 but didn’t consider fashion design as a career until she was selected to present her work in the Robert Hillstead gallery at UNL in 2010. Her collection will include a mix of florals and patterns. http://crystalbrakhage.wixsite.com/crystalbrakhage
Elayne Gibson- Fat Owl Fashion - Primarily gender neutral/fluid pieces that put on emphasis on accessibility and comfort. Pieces will be tailored specifically for wheelchair users, individuals with sensory disorders, and members of the transgender community. http://fatowlfashion.storenvy.com