Omaha Fashion Week Kicks Off with Metropolitan Community College Student Night

Over 50 looks by high school student designers were shown on the runway tonight as OFW kicked off it's spring 2017 season at the Omaha Design Center.

Over 400 students, parents and teachers were in the audience to watch the runway show and panel discussion that followed. Free student tickets were underwritten by Metro Community College, which now offers an associate's degree in fashion design.

The show featured works from the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program at the Joslyn Art Museum, Nebraska 4-H, Nebraska FCCLA, Omaha South Magnet High School and Omaha Central High School. The Pretty In Patina Pre-Party featured musical and visual arts performances by students from the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program.

The OFW Selection Panel was on hand to review the work and select a student winner, who will be announced next week and receive a $500 cash prize from SAC Federal Credit Union. Past student night winners include Chris DiGiorgio in 2015 and Hannah Hidalgo in 2016, both part of the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program.

Following the runway show, OFW Producer Brook Hudson led a panel discussion with local industry experts: Buf Reynolds, Omaha fashion designer; Alyssa Dilts, founder of Develop Model Management; Sam Hohman, founding board member of the Fashion Institute Midwest; Nanci Stephenson, director of the fashion program at Metro Community College; and Nick Hudson, founder of Omaha Fashion Week.

Topics included how to make good choices regarding college selection; where panelists get their inspiration; how to overcome technical deficiencies as a designer; and what local resources are available to help students explore career paths in fashion.

Stay tuned to OFW social media to find out which student designer will be the lucky winner of a $500 cash prize from SAC Federal Credit Union! The winner will be announced on Monday, February 27.

Tomorrow night: The Methodist Cancer Survivor Show

Last night was just a taste of what's to come this week! Tickets for the rest of the week can be purchased at omahafashionweek.com/tickets.

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.

Omaha Fashion Week is celebrating ten years in 2017! During that time, we've grown into the nation's fifth largest fashion event, supporting more independent fashion designers than any other organization in the region. Omaha Fashion Week is a glamorous red carpet event for a good cause. We nurture the youngest of fashion designers by providing mentoring, education opportunities, and a professional platform to showcase their work.

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