The Front Row is our passion series offering an up-close look at the creators and cultivators that are reshaping Omaha’s community. Audio Helkuik has been changing the fashion-scape in Omaha with custom-crafted leather goods since 2011. With a unique approach to gender-free styling, Audio encourages the Omaha community to get creative with the ways they express themselves.

Audio Helkuik wearing Decadence Bra Harness by Audio Helkuik.

How did you get interested in fashion to begin with?

I actually grew up not caring for fashion. It didn’t feel like a world that I could be a part of, especially because I didn’t like shopping. I am non-binary, but clothing was so gendered and binary that it felt confusing and not a desirable form of expression. However, I found a way to explore my gender’s true clothing.

In high school, I started thrifting independently and explored different ways to style clothing. Since I’m quite tiny, youth sizing was an option, so it opened a whole new world of styling. I found so much gender euphoria in clothes.

In college, I never intended on majoring in fashion. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I was undeclared for a while. Then, I stumbled across The Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery over on East Campus. It featured work made by the students and I loved it. Their silhouettes were cool to me and I just had a feeling that I could see myself doing this someday. After this experience, I went straight from the gallery and declared my major. I did costume design for my college’s theatre department as a day job and fashion design as my real job. I got to see the different design worlds that way.

How did thrifting shape the way you view fashion?

I started thrifting in high school because I didn’t have a job and it was a way I could shop on my own without having to ask my parents for money. I got to explore a ton of 60s and 70’s clothing and accessories. My closet was just pure vintage gold, which was cool. During that time in my life, it was more like meditation-shopping. I could spend a couple of dollars and get a garbage bag full of vintage treasures.

I still thrift to this day; however, I am picky with my textile quality, so when I thrift I can trust to find affordable items at the thrift store that will last a long time. The fiber content and the quality of the fabric is important to me. That’s one of the reasons I gravitated towards working with leather. It is very sustainable because it can be worn many times. I made my first leather harness many years ago, and I can still wear it. It’s going to last forever, which is why it’s not the greatest business. My thrifting in high school has led me to seek items that are nice, going to last, and look good forever. This mentality has carried over into my business, as well.

What led you to leather?

The punk rock and fetish aesthetics have always appealed to me. You can’t go without leather to accomplish these aesthetics. Even though it was difficult at first to work with leather, I made a leather studio in my basement because I wanted to do it right. I was always drawn to the harnesses I saw at the textile gallery in the college, and I knew that I could make one myself. I was inspired.

Dawaune Lamont Hayes wearing Pearl Wig Head Harness, Pearl Studded Bracelets, Pearl Studded Cuff, Pearl Tassel Choker, Decadence Bra Harness, Notturno Belt, and Strand Flapper Belt by Audio Helkuik.

How have you seen the Omaha community react to your brand?

Making wearable leather goods, I knew my target market probably wouldn’t remain in Omaha. I have a few local orders and some customers that are interested in the aesthetic. I think it’s just the Midwest in general, it’s not my target market. I love living here and I love when I have customers from here, but typically I have to ship out my items.

How do you make your brand accessible?

The biggest variety in my customers that I have to make myself accessible to is the price point. I try to have a range of prices, so my customers are able to buy one of everything. The hard thing is that people have different budgets. I have things that range from $5 to $300, so everyone who shows up at my virtual storefront with interest in my brand can walk away with something.

“I have not worked to include everybody, but I don’t purposely exclude people. I am not making a product that appeals to the majority population because I don’t want to. I always say, my market is weirdos and queerdos, and I’m good with that.”

— Audio Helkuik

How has the pandemic affected your business?

As far as sales go during the pandemic, my business hasn’t suffered too much. I can keep fulfilling; I don’t sell as many big-ticket items. It’s a weird time of not going out and wearing extravagant pieces. The one thing that has impacted me as a small business is shipping. The struggle with shipping is that it’s become slow and things are getting lost way more often. I’m constantly communicating with customers about tracking a lost label, delayed shipping, and resolving issues. I’ve never had to do that until this year, so its been an adjustment.

I think the scariest part of running a business is the point I have to let go of control of the product. When an order comes in, I can do everything to micromanage, and I can be in control of that for a day. Then, I have to send it out into the world.

What are your future goals?

As far as growth goes, I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around manufacturing. I think one step before I would get things manufactured is to hire someone to help me with the day-to-day tasks. For example, the shipping, customer service, online store, patterns, photos, and things like that. If I keep growing past what my two hands can make, I’m willing to start manufacturing. I want to have my products carried in more retail environments, but I’m not in any stores yet.

How can the community support you as an artist?

I’ve always told people you probably know someone who would wear my stuff. People can send them a text or just share my Instagram. Really just any way to get my products out there, whether it’s through friends, cousins, or neighbors. There is always going to be someone where you’ll think, “I know someone who would wear this.” I mostly rely on word of mouth, as it’s a really great thing for small businesses.

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