Kent Bellows Mentoring Program Student Wins Top Designer Prize at Student Night

Over 30 looks were shown by student designers at OFW's second annual Student Night.  The sold out audience was comprised of nearly 500 students, there to see friends on the runway and learn more about career opportunities in the fashion industry.

The runway show featured work from students in 4-H, the Kent Bellows Fellowship Program at Joslyn Art Museum, OPS Central High School and capsule collections by OFW student designers Syndey Moore, Caleb Hanner and Grace Neary.

Following the runway show, OFW Producer Brook Hudson led a panel discussion with local industry experts: Chevy Kozisek of Victor Victoria Salon & Spa, Alyssa Dilts of Develop Model Management; Ali Babe of Design Parliament; David Scott, OFW Selection Panel Co-Chair and special guest, Nick Sawyers who has collaborated with women's wear brand, Alice + Olivia.  Topics included everything from stereotypes in the media to how to get started in fashion.  The big takeaways from the discussion were that "students should know who they are and reflect that to the world", "never give up or listen when someone says 'you can't'," and "get involved." Quote of the night, delivered by Nick Sawyers: "Success is the best revenge."

The seven person selection panel chose Kent Bellows Mentoring Program Student, Christopher DiGiorgio the winner of a $500 prize provided by SAC Federal Credit Union.

View Borsheims Red Carpet Photos by Herb Thompson

View Event Photos by Kathy Rae

Red coverage by Chris Peters in the Omaha World Herald

Get to know our designers: Tuesday Edition

With our Student night quickly approaching we thought you would like to get to know a little bit about the young designers included in the show.

4-H students

Sydney Moore

OPS students

Caleb Hanner

Kent Bellows 

Grace Neary for Grace62 Designs

Sydney Moore began sewing at the young age of eight with her grandmother Kathy. The 12 year old had always received a lot of support from her family and friends, when it came to sewing and designing. Last summer Sydney joined us for Fashion Camp  and was amazed at the fact that there were students just a little older than her getting their designs on the runway. Sydney will be showing in our student night as a first step in her dream of someday making it to Paris with her designs.

Caleb Hanner, a college student at Iowa State University, had not always taken the path of design.  Caleb had began his college education majoring in music, as he grew more and more unhappy with it he knew it was time for a change.  Though he  had always loved fashion, it wasn't until he volunteered at the March 2014 show that he knew his new career direction. Caleb began sketching in the spring and June he began sewing.  By the end of the summer he had made his first outfit and is now ready to show his complete line at  Student night.

As a child Grace Neary drew designs much like she does today but at the time she believed if she took them to the department store they could magically make them for her. Eventually she learned to sew her designs her self with the help of grandmother and her trusty Vogue Sewing Book. The high schooler is inspired by much of the designs from the the 60's and the time of change. As Grace was designing this line she was going through a time of change of her own. The loss of her grandfather played a major role in her designs and can not wait to honor him with her line on Student Night.

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Click HERE to get your tickets to see our Student Night Show!

OFW Presents: Student Night March 4

High school and college students interested in fashion design and creativity are invited to enjoy a glamorous night on March 4 at OFW that will be dedicated to answering their burning questions about the industry!

OFW is partnering with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program, 4-H and Develop Model Management for a program focused on high school students who are interested in fashion design. The program will feature collections from Kent Bellows' and 4-H students, along with a retrospective collection from OFW veteran designer and Kent Bellows Mentor, Dan Richters.

A panel discussion will follow the runway show featuring fashion designers Borris Powell and Dan Richters; founder of Develop Model Management, Alyssa Dilts; and founder of Omaha Fashion Week, Nick Hudson.  Doors open at 6 p.m. for Red Carpet photos and the show begins at 8 p.m., with the panel at 8:45 p.m.

Bring your student ID (or driver's license showing that you are age 19 or under) and get free admission! All high school and college students interested in the fashion industry are welcome to attend.

If you are a school administrator or leader of a student group and want to reserve a block of complimentary tickets for this event, complete the form below for individual tickets rsvp here:

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