Very flowing. They’re not the most radical but they’re very interesting, and there’s a solid consistency from Buf. She’s a powerhouse who does several shows a year and designs several pieces for every show.” Heise’s own work features monochrome panel dress designs that expose skin in a sultry peek-a-boo style. Bellwether Boutique’s Jessica Latham shared her take on other leading Omaha designers: “Dan Richters is the example I would put in front of people when I tell them fashion is also art. Alexia Thiele is the queen of reconstruction. She makes unique, adorable pieces for the entire family. “Jennie Mason is sweet as a Gap model, only to throw you off with electric colors, spiked shoulders, computer carcasses, pink tutus and robots. She is the only designer who nailed the market on men’s wear. Amazing tailoring. Every time Jane Round brings me something new it blows my mind. She’s constantly growing as a designer, as much and often more than the ‘scene’ is.”
Before she got plugged into the scene courtesy of Bellwether’s Latham, Landolt said she had “no idea” there were local designers beside herself.
Latham got an insider’s look at the goings-on. “She took me backstage, just holding my hand and dragging me everywhere, so I got behind the scenes. It was crazy back stage.”
“I think it’s very important to make connection with the other designers,” said Landolt, an Omaha Roncalli junior who accessorizes her drab school uniform with high heels and sprays of fabric and color. “We’re not competitive with each other but it kind of makes us work harder. I know I want to be more creative and think of new ideas, so I’m not too similar to someone else. We all have our own distinct looks, but I think we kind of overlap in some areas -- a lot of us like the vintage-inspired clothing.”
The environment whet the young designer’s appetite to be part of the next show. She was and she impressed many with her creative talent.
Landolt was a spectator at the first Fashion Week and thanks to
OFW Fashion Director Rachel Richards summed up some of the exciting potential, “It’s now clear there is an amazing pool of creative design talent here in Nebraska. One of our next steps will be to offer designers professional retail marketing opportunities and for the best of the best, boutique manufacturing as well.” One thing is clear. Design talent from Omaha is not going to remain in the background for much longer.
dress ellene mc clay top and skirt megan myers
dress jane round
Before OFW, Heise said, few designers knew each other. “It’s been this magnet for, ‘Oh, there’s somebody else doing it here, too - I’m not as crazy as I thought.’”
models jasmine fuelberth, brooke hubbard, alyssa clough
takingoff
“It’s also cultivating new talent,” said T’eez Salon owner Thomas Sena, who echoed others in admiring the work of two teenage designers featured at last year’s Fashion Week. One was Jane Round and the other, Claire Landolt, who drew much attention with her playful dresses fashioned from newsprint and duct tape.
omahafashionweek.com
29