The sewing machine emits soft clicking noises as it diligently waits to stitch seams. A wide array of fabrics, from cotton to upholstery, await the fate of the scissors, which are nestled unassumingly on the table. Imminently, the methodical process of measuring, cutting, and sewing will be underway, representing the days, weeks, and months spent creating an original vision of fashion interpretation.
This process is familiar to senior Kyra Fulkerson, who is experienced in the world of clothing design. Fulkerson’s designs have been featured in both last year and this year’s Omaha Fashion Week, which seeks to celebrate local talent and foster an appreciation for fashion. This year, Omaha Fashion Week was from Feb. 26th to Mar. 2nd, with the 26th being the night when college and high school students can display their designs.
“I’m walking on the same runway as professional people who have years and years of experience in design and have made a name for themselves,” Fulkerson said. “I’m walking on that same runway, and it’s incredible. I was flabbergasted.”
Fulkerson has earned the opportunity to walk her own designs in Omaha Fashion Week due to being a mentee of the Joslyn Kent Bellows Mentoring Program, which was created in 2007 and established in 2014.
“High school students are paired with professional artists in the community. Each mentee can expand their art skill set by exploring different art disciplines,” director of the Joslyn Kent Bellows Mentoring Program Pamela Hinson said. “The program is a safe space for mentees to be themselves, create artwork, and grow artistically and socially.”
Hinson, who has been the director of the program for three years and is a professional artist herself, has witnessed Kyra’s talent in the fashion track.
“I believe that Kyra has a gift for designing. She shows her creativity by designing and making her own patterns. Sometimes she will freestyle it and begin draping fabric on a dress maker’s form and before I know it, she has created an amazing garment,” Hinson said.
Fulkerson first took an interest in fashion after viewing the 2015 live-action Cinderella movie, with many of her designs being influenced by movies, TV shows, and the fashion designer Iris Van Herpen.
“I love her work, and I’m very inspired by her because she does a lot of stuff with unconventional fabrics and unconventional pieces. She always makes it into these gorgeous garments, and it’s super impressive,” Fulkerson said.
Fulkerson makes a point to use more unconventional fabrics, such as utilizing upholstery fabrics to make pants.
“There’s so much cool fabric in the world, and if no one’s using it, then I’m going to use it,” Fulkerson said.
As a freshman, Fulkerson honed her fashion skills in the Textiles and Clothing Design course.
“Not even just Kyra, but students in general, have no idea how to even thread the machine, and then you go from not knowing how to thread the machine or put a piece of fabric on the machine to creating a garment that is actually wearable,” Textiles and Clothing Design teacher Madison Wieck said. “I think that’s the coolest part, and I know that Kyra was able to develop that in the three months that we were sewing on the machines.”
Throughout the design process, there are some key components to a successful product. Fulkerson encourages aspiring designers to consider these learnings as they embark on their fashion journey.
“Always measure what you’re designing. And just be adventurous and have fun, because you never know what might come out of it,” Fulkerson said.
Along with being meticulous and creative, clothing designers also need to be flexible.
“Trust the process, and you will be able to come out with something that maybe even if you didn’t initially think that that’s how it was going to look, you adapt throughout the process,” Wieck said.
For Fulkerson, clothing has not only enabled a creative outlet but has allowed for another means of self-expression.
“I’m a very shy person, so I realized that if I want to still express myself, the best way I can do that is my appearance. And what better way to express yourself through your appearance than make your own clothes,” Fulkerson said.
Fulkerson is continuing this passion by attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha to major in art history and Metropolitan Community College for fashion, eventually planning on becoming a fashion historian.
In the meantime, Fulkerson will culminate her experience as a mentee of the Kent Bellows program in Omaha Fashion Week.
“I don’t really like to put myself out there, even though I do with my clothes, but I never really liked to be the center of attention. But in the moment, everyone is looking at me, but they’re looking at my clothes and not me, and it feels so good,” Fulkerson said.