Omaha Fashion Week 2020

By Myles A. Davis and Ashley Salem

Omaha Fashion Week started over a decade ago in the Old Market. The first show featured 12 designers, 20 models and around 2,000 attendees. Fast forward to 2020 and it’s grown to the fourth largest organized fashion week in the country, and is also uniquely diversified.

OFW’s attendance has grown to over 10,000 attendees per year and continues to nurture young, Black creatives in the city. It’s become a midwestern fashion hub educating fans and students alike on a variety of cultures and styles.

For Black and Brown creatives, the options and outlets for fashion week are endless. We have always been innovative. We have always been creative. Now we are seen.

Due to the pandemic, this year featured a virtual runway show, making Omaha Fashion Week available to an international audience via streaming services, and many are embracing change.

We speak with a few Black contributors to get their take on what this experience for them is like and what that means for our future as a community.

“Being a model means being an inspiration to other people. Giving them confidence they don’t have. It feels incredible to give the future kids what you didn’t have. I didn’t grow up with models that look like me and I’m glad to be that for them.”

-Selam David
Model
@salamamushwas

alia quattlebaum

Artist Director/Hair and Makeup Artist

Cosmetologist Alia Quattlebaum is no stranger to the fashion industry. With nearly a decade in professional makeup artistry, Alia was the perfect choice for Artistic Director of OFW 2020. Born in Bellevue, this Black artist made her debut in this space by doing the hair and makeup for OFW Model winners. Now Alia holds a much more esteemed position.

Image from iOS.jpg — “I remember praying, hoping one day this would come - if God had it in his plans…and that time has come and it feels amazing”

- Alia Quattlebaum
Artistic Director
@themagneticbeauty
*photo courtesy: @DavidTurnboPhotography*

Alia’s work was featured again this year to promote the 2020 show and lives as the cover photo for the Omaha Fashion Week website.

These images are screen captures from the Omaha Fashion Week Instagram page.

photos courtesy: @heatherandjameson

Keith “Kethro” Rodger

From a couple of friends with a sweet idea, to setting the sound atmosphere for Omaha Fashion week. Keith Rodger (Kethro) goes to sleep with melodies and wakes up with rhythms. From the moment you walk through the door, he crafts sound to create an experience for Omaha Fashion Week guests and designers.