OMAHA FASHION WEEK: VERUS

 

    Welcome to VERUS Season. Taking inspiration from the Latin word, our designers for this Fall/Winter Season offered the most genuine, authentic insight they could provide into the world of fashion design. Through their creations, we can see the characteristics valued in each showcase, and understand the personality of each designer without them uttering a word, or revealing themselves to us at the end of their collection's walk down the runway. Each night was filled with vastly different formats of fashion, from avant-garde statements on the sacrificial nature of fast fashion and the impermanence of earthly materials, to an expression of the uniqueness each person possesses due to their specific upbringing and the cultures they are raised around. Night by night visitors to Omaha Fashion Week were greeted by a volley of color and construction that astounded even veteran attendees. Multiple instances of single-night ticket holders opting to return the following night should indicate how intoxicating of an event occurred this weekend. Below you will find a selection of highlighted designers and why they brought these particular pieces to the runway. 

REFUSE ART

    Refuse Art by Viy is a stunning collection taking a direct shot at the wasteful nature of certain avenues of fashion. Rather than use brand new materials that may end up in a landfill as its owner goes from trend to trend, Viy took waste materials that they collected and repurposed them for the runway. Whether it was caution tape, bleach bottles, or tossed barbies, Viy found a way to revitalize items that previous users saw as fit for a landfill. This collection serves as a fantastic reminder of how we can all take a step back and opt to reduce our consumption, reuse items and give them new purpose, and opt to purchase materials that are recyclable so that when their story is over with us, another person can turn them into something more than we may have imagined for them. Viy's dedication to the central tenants of environmentalism will inspire readers and viewers of their work to opt for a greener way forward on behalf of themselves and everyone else on this planet. To support environmental work in the Omaha area, follow @bff_green_team on Instagram to find local cleanup events and other environmentally friendly activities. 

THENSŌ

    ThEnsō is the brainchild of Kaila Loew and is a more than fitting fashion house to show during the Verus season. ThEnsō is intended to be "a representation of true and innermost self" according to their design philosophy, and this concept is found across all aspects of a design's construction. Kaila Loew intended to infuse their Japanese heritage and modern streetwear, resulting in designs that both pay homage to design of the past and present while clearing paving a path to the future. Design concepts such as tops with front ties and a 'V' shape at the chest evoke traditional Japanese keikogi, all the while being worn with Western style button fly trousers. Juxtapositions such as these result in fascinating combinations that belong on runways and red carpets across the world. ThEnsō is a pristine example of how leaning into the traits most unique about yourself can be the start of something breathtaking for others. 

MATRIACA STUDIO

    Natalia Bermeo's Matriaca Studio is a scintillating blend of Ecuadorian traditional clothing and colorways with a multitude of design aesthetics regularly at the runway. Natalia's Fall/Winter collection hosted outfits in line with the harsh angles and sizings found in the early 90's and late 2000's, while also finding plenty of time to show off looks using timeless women's silhouettes to show off traditional colorways that honor her culture. The ability to fuse seemingly unrelated constructions and colors into beautiful garments seems to tell a larger story about how fusing cultures and traditions often makes something just as beautiful while allowing us to best reflect who we are and how we perceive the world.