As she walks the red carpet her feet cramp, but people chatter and clap in awe. This is Skye Jones, an East senior. She walked the runway Aug. 25 at Omaha Fashion Week this year.

“It felt really good to see all these people applauding,” Jones said. “Just knowing how hard your designer worked for what you were wearing for five seconds on the stage.”

If you wanted to attend this event it’s open to the public, according to The Reader article “Omaha Fashion Week at Omaha Design Center,” a ticket cost anywhere from $56.82 to $112.65. The event is a good annual opportunity to get coverage on local fashion happening in Omaha.

“Omaha Fashion Week offers free press passes to anyone who wants to write or shoot content for a news organization,” Director of Community Outreach Brianna Anderson said. “This is a great chance to further a career from a different perspective.”

According to omahafashionweek.com the event has been held since 2008, it is a socially conscious organization, and is the fourth largest organized fashion event in the U.S.

Anderson has had a passion for fashion since she was a young girl. She got to experience many aspects of the fashion industry. 

“I have been working for Omaha Fashion Week for 4 years and started as a volunteer and intern,” Anderson said. “I have tried my hand at all the niches of the fashion world and found my home in talent direction and making the show happen from behind the scenes.” 

The process of getting in is broken down into different steps. There are a total of four parts to complete before hearing back.

“The audition process consisted of just showing up to the model call, getting pictures taken of you, and doing a small walk down the runway, and getting videotaped doing that,” Creighton Prep senior Tristan Trotter said.

When getting picked to be able to participate it is not just focused on your looks. They give everyone an equal opportunity. 

“The designers aren’t necessarily looking for models that are like Bella Hadid or  Kendall Kardashian; they looking for people that can stand up there that can show confidence,” Jones said.

For a participant, this event was overall a positive experience. Although they did have negative experiences during the process.

“The best part was dressing up in the clothes that the designers gave you because they were often really interesting,” Trotter said. “The worst part was waiting; you had to show up very early and for the majority of the time you’re just sitting in waiting.”

Despite some reported issues relating to long wait times, some participants talk about the event. Brianna Anderson still recommends it. She believes that it is a helpful experience for people to dip their toes in the fashion realm that the Omaha Fashion Week can inspire within people.

“I think Omaha Fashion Week provides a wonderful experience to get involved in the fashion community in Omaha,” Anderson said. “You learn a lot of skills that benefit a future career in any aspect of the industry, it is a great chance to see a high-quality production from behind the scenes.”