Designs created by junior Kasique Nowling, which used upscaled and sustainable materials, were selected as part of the student showcase for Omaha Fashion Week. The experience proved hugely educational for Nowling, inspiring her to push herself further.
Weeks after Nowling submitted designs from her Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design classes to be considered for an Omaha Fashion Week showcase, she figured the lack of response meant that her designs didn’t make the cut.
Turns out, all three of her designs were accepted, but there was a typo in her email address on her submission.
“That was my bad,” Nowling said with a laugh. “I thought, ‘Oh well, I guess I’ll just try again next year.’”
After realizing her mistake, Nowling had to ready her designs for the student showcase quickly.
"The garments I submitted were initially designed for Project Funway, our fall fundraiser where we create designs using sustainable materials to raise money for women’s shelters,” Nowlling said. “One garment was still just a design — I had to start from scratch to get it ready in time.”
The process began with “rack check,” where designers meet with assigned models to custom tailor their garments to look runway-ready.
“I got to meet with my models for the first time at rack check and see them in their garments in person. If anything was too big or like ill-fitting, I took it in and tailored it on my own time," Nowling said.
The day of the show placed Nowling in the middle of the bustling backstage preparations of a large-scale fashion show, with student designers and industry professionals alike hustling to get everything ready.
“I knew it was a big deal, but being backstage and watching my garments on the runway from the little CCTV was so surreal,” Nowling said. “Having so many classmates there, though, was really special. They're just all such huge inspirations to me, and to be able to share this experience and work toward similar goals together is so cool.”
She’s grateful for her fashion week experience this year, but she’s also looking ahead to how she can return as a more complete designer in the future.
“Next year, I really want to challenge myself and take the skills, abilities and lessons I’ve learned to make something more cohesive,” Nowling said. “My goal is to return to OFW with a full collection that tells a complete story.”
