The recent Omaha Fashion Week concluded with a vibrant showcase of creativity, highlighting upcycled materials and supporting local talent.
OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha Fashion Week concluded its spring festivities on March 1, 2025, with organizers emphasizing the importance of fostering year-round connections between local designers and the community. Celebrated for its 17 years of showcasing fashion innovation, this year’s theme was “outré,” a term defined by Merriam-Webster as “violating convention or propriety,” which fittingly reflected the bold and eclectic designs presented on the runway.
Held at the Omaha Design Center, the fashion week was marked by a focus on creativity and sustainability. Brianna Anderson, the marketing director for Omaha Fashion Week, highlighted the initiative to integrate upcycled materials into the event’s décor. “We wanted to bring something unexpected to the table,” Anderson stated. “We wanted to present the unexpected to Omaha.” This included utilizing seven miles of VHS tape as curtains, incorporating dyed hair as wall decorations, and featuring recycled paper items throughout the venue.
Brett Foster, the event’s environmental designer, elaborated on the meticulous preparation that contributed to a cohesive atmosphere. “We wanted to use a lot of things that might be destined for the landfill and create something compelling and engaging and interactive,” Foster explained. “Just all these disparate items sort of coming together in a bright color palette to get everybody excited about what’s happening.” The design aesthetic extended to promotional materials, reinforcing the overall theme of the event.
The four-night fashion showcase was emceed by Maria Corpuz, who is involved in local merchandise production and contributes to a radio show on KIOS. Each evening featured distinct themes, with noteworthy highlights including the second season of the Develop Kids runway and the return of student designer night on Wednesday. This aspect aligns with the event’s “fashion for good” mission, aiming to support young and emerging designers within the community.
Guest attendee Peyton Holubeck reflected on her experience, noting, “I do love coming to Omaha Fashion Week, getting involved with all the local designers, the local businesses, but also supporting a local business in and of itself that is Omaha fashion.” The emphasis on community and local creativity resonated throughout the event.
Saturday night’s “Enigma” showcase served as the season finale, featuring headlining presentations from designers including TRBROWN, Remlo Studios, and Michael Drummond, alongside contributions from nine other emerging and established designers.
The week concluded with a shopping opportunity on Sunday afternoon, known as “Shop the Runway,” which has become a staple of the event. This segment allowed attendees to purchase designer outfits or view them up close, further directing attention and sales toward local designers, such as Halie Christofferson, who showcased her collection earlier in the week.
Shop the Runway was hosted by ShowHaus, a new platform designed to assist emerging designers in marketing and selling their work. Co-Founder Sami Hartong reported that ShowHaus aims to connect customers and Omaha Fashion Week attendees with local designers. “The greatest part of the whole experience for me is being able to work with all these young college kids … helping them see how they’re going to bring some of their ideas to light and make them accessible and marketable,” Foster mentioned, encapsulating the event’s supportive atmosphere for burgeoning talent in the fashion industry. Some of the collections showcased are now available for viewing or purchase through shopshowhaus.com.
Source: Noah Wire Services
