August 25 Finale Designers Selected

 

  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.

Omaha Fashion Week Announces August 2012 Designers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Omaha Fashion Week Announces August 2012 Designers Omaha, NE, Apr. 23, 2012 - Omaha Fashion Week organizers announced this week the designers who have been selected to show collections during the organization's August 2012 shows. They include 12 newcomers, four high school students, two designers who currently live outside of Omaha and two designers who are launching national brands.

“We are really excited to have Chad Carr and JLynn Hausmann on board,” said OFW producer Brook Hudson. Carr is reviving the 1980’s swimwear brand, Leggoons, and Hausmann is launching high-end denim brand, JHaus, based out of L.A. during the August shows. Both Carr and Hausmann are Nebraska natives. “It’s gratifying to see that designers view OFW as the ideal platform to launch their brands nationally,” Hudson said.

The applicant pool included 64 designers who were narrowed down to 37 for the August shows. Designers applied online and a limited number were selected to pitch their ideas for their upcoming collection with a panel of industry experts brought together by the Omaha Fashion Institute. The experts scored each designer and provided feedback that organizers used to make final selection decisions.

Designers were placed into categories based on the type of work they do. "Fans can expect a theme for each night of fashion week," Hudson said. “This allows fans to select what types of fashions they see.” The OFW show schedule will have nights focused on the following areas: Children’s wear, avant garde, bridal and swimwear, evening wear and day wear.

One significant change this year is that designers for the Saturday night finale have not yet been selected. “Saturday night will be a ‘best of’ show that includes our favorite looks from the week. We will be working with designers over the summer to see how their collections progress before making final decisions about the Saturday show,” Hudson said. Show organizers hope to feature 80-100 looks at the Saturday Finale, which will be held outdoors on Jones Street. Weeknight shows will be held indoors at KANEKO on 1111 Jones St.

OFW August 2012 is scheduled for August 20-25.  Tickets go on sale June 1 at omahafashionweek.com/tickets. Prices for weeknight tickets range from $65 for a VIP seat to $50-$30 for reserved seats. Ticket prices for the Saturday Finale range from $1,000 for a 10-person VIP table or $120 for an individual VIP seat to $60-$30 for reserved seats.

Omaha Fashion Week: August 2012 Designers

Children’s Wear: Monday Night, 8/20 Aubrey  Sookram for Markoos Modern Design Hollie Hanash for Ruffled Runway Jea Theis for Jake & Lucy Rebecca Robbins for Fit for a Princess Susan Ludlow Yolanda Diaz for Little Miss Fashion

Avant Garde: Tuesday Night, 8/21 Angela Balderston for Get Plastered Audio Helkuik Dan Richters Ellene McClay for FORTRESS Joi Katskee for Joi Joison Mai Do Terri Jen Buckner for Nuevintage Apparel & Accessories Tiffany Headley for Donna Faye

Bridal & Swimwear: Wednesday Night, 8/22 Chad Carr for Leggoons Erin Thomas for Toxic Sadie Jessica Hansen for Jessica Alyse Kendra Morgan for AML Designs Michaela Cawley for Kkini Sabrina Jones

Evening Wear: Thursday Night, 8/23 Bertiher De La Cruz Buf Reynolds Fella Vaughn for Fella Juantiesha Christian for SuShe by J. Tracy Kate Walz for Just Because Lameesha Stuckey for Stylishly Chic Leah Casper for Casper Couture Maximillian Suiter for Max Millian Williams Torres for WILL STYLE

Day Wear: Friday Night, 8/24 Audra McAvaddy for Coriander Daniel Munoz Eliana Smith Kaitlyn  Fitzgerald for KAIT Blu Masey Rost JLynn Hausmann for JHaus Shamina Wiek for Pastel GROOVE House

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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 Omaha Fashion Institute 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/omaha-fashion-institute.

About Kaneko KANEKO is a new kind of organization – not a museum – not a gallery – not a library nor a research center – but an open space for open minds that nurtures and promotes creativity in the arts, sciences, and philosophy. Through progressive exhibitions, performances, lectures, symposia, and innovative programming we encourage people to explore and experience the creative process that is essential to all human activity. Learn more at www.thekaneko.org.

Omaha Fashion Week Announces March 2012 Designers

From an OFW news release that went out today:

Omaha, NE, Oct. 24, 2011 - Omaha Fashion Week [OFW] organizers announced this week the designers who have been selected to show collections during the organization's March 2012 shows, to be held at KANEKO. They include four newcomers, three high school students and two designers from Midwest cities outside of Omaha.

"We set up a more rigorous application process for the upcoming season - and the fashion design community really stepped up and presented some great ideas," Nick Hudson, OFW producer said. Designers applied online and a limited number were selected to pitch their ideas for their upcoming collection with a panel of industry experts. The experts scored each designer and provided feedback that organizers used to make final selection decisions.

"The feedback from the panel was so helpful - we will be passing it on to each designer as a way of helping them continue to push the envelope on their creativity," Hudson said. The first OFW designer meeting for the upcoming season was held last night and, "...they [the designers] all seemed excited about the changes to the selection process and the feedback and coaching we will provide as they get ready for March."

Omaha Fashion Week: March 2012 Designers

Angela Balderston: Angela hails from the U.K. and made her debut on Omaha’s fashion scene in August.  She creates avant-garde pieces from non-traditional materials.

Terri Jen Buckner: Terri Jen is an eco-friendly designer who re-purposes vintage clothing into one-of-a-kind street wear pieces under her label NueVintage Apparel & Accessories.

Leah Casper: Leah is an OFW newcomer who studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and interned at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where she further developed her love of costume design.

Amanda Clark: Amanda Clark is an eco-friendly designer who now lives in St. Louis, but has roots in Omaha.  She designs under her label, “I Design with Love” and describes her work as both sculptural and wearable.

Bertiher de la Cruz Trinidad: Bertiher is a Mexican native with more than 13 years of experience as a tailor and fashion designer.  A newcomer to OFW, he spent part of his career as an instructor at Chaiaps University in Mexico.

Emma Erickson: Emma graduated from Academy of Art University and interned at Herve Leger by Max Azria (BCBG) and some of her work has been shown at New York Fashion Week.  She creates high quality women’s daywear.

Elizabeth Fitzgerald: Elizabeth is a 16-year-old attending Duchesne Academy. She began her studies as a fashion designer this summer through a program at the School of Art Institute in Chicago.  She is an OFW newcomer and will debut her first-ever collection this March.

Hollie Hanash: Hollie is creating her second collection for OFW. She designs under her “Ruffled Runway” label which she says is perfect for the trendy kid who wants to be the playground princess.

Tiffany Headley: Tiffany designs glamorous cocktail dresses, evening gowns and outerwear under her label, Donna Faye Couture.  She is best-known for designing the winning gown for the reigning Miss America, Teresa Scanlan.

Megan Hunt: Megan Hunt, a.k.a. Princess Lasertron, is a bridal designer, blogger and self-proclaimed best friend. Her combination of handcrafted design and business prowess has earned her cult celebrity status in the wedding industry.

Jane Round: Jane is a senior at Millard North High School and has shown collections at OFW since 2009.  Her high-quality garments are influenced by vintage fashion.

Christian Shuster: Christian is Kansas City designer and OFW newcomer.  He designs a men’s necktie line under the christianMICHEAL label that is sold at several well-known Kansas City retailers. He creates custom men’s wear.

Kate Walz: Kate is a 15-year-old fashion designer who is working on her fifth collection for OFW under her label, Just Because, which she describes as sophisticated and girly.

More designers may be added to the list in coming weeks.  The upcoming show is scheduled for March 19-24 at KANEKO on 1111 Jones Street in Omaha and will feature collections for Fall 2012.  Tickets go on sale in January at www.omahafashionweek.com.

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Photo courtesy of OFW Photo Contest Team, Metamorphosis, featuring work by photographer G Thompson Higgins; designer Megan Hunt; stylist Mary Killian, models Madison Riedmiller, Gwyneth Talley and Sarah Fay Smith; all at Hotel Deco with lighting by Libby Dyer and set direction by Royce Forbush.