Imagine walking down a catwalk, all eyes on you, focused on what you are wearing. It’s a dream for an aspiring fashion designer: the bright lights, clicking cameras, and oohs and ahhs coming from the crowd. That dream came true for some of Nebraska’s most talented up-and-coming student designers featured during Omaha Fashion Week at Metropolitan Community College’s Student Night on February 26.
Metro’s Student Night provides a platform to showcase garments and mini collections from Nebraska high schools and fashion mentoring programs. The student designers who presented their work are the future of the fashion design industry.
Among those participants were five students from Nebraska Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA.
“This was so much fun,” said Kailey Clatt from Waverly High School. “I cannot believe the confidence I had in myself doing this.”
Haley Hosick from Cozad High School agreed. “I learned so much participating in Omaha Fashion Week. Not only has it helped me with my Fashion Design Project for FCCLA, but it has helped me decide on a career choice. I am so excited to take the next step and major in fashion design next year.”
Nebraska FCCLA members applied to participate in the show. In order to be considered, garments needed to demonstrate clothing construction and fashion design skills gained through a Family and Consumer Sciences course. Garment entries were fashion forward, runway appropriate, and displayed high quality construction.
“This event has given purpose to students whose talents and passions may not have been fully supported in any other extra-curricular activity at our school,” said Waverly High School FCCLA Adviser and Family and Consumer Science Teacher Mallory Gregory. “The students started the process this summer, designing and creating their collection. The experience helped them see that their purpose and future is supported and there are wonderful professionals they can learn from. We are extremely grateful for this opportunity. Because of it, I have two amazing senior mentors who are helping my younger design students get excited about creativity and design, as well as seeing it as a relevant future career possibility.”
Nebraska FCCLA is supported through the Nebraska Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning at the Nebraska Department of Education. You can learn more online at nebraskafccla.org.
More information on Omaha Fashion Week can be found at omahafashionweek.com.