OFW: Meet the designers

Audi Helkuik

Age: 26

Helkuik (formerly Kuiken) studied fashion design and art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The illusional, magical world of the circus inspires her.

"Ballet is beautiful and everyone knows it's beautiful," she said. But what about a trapeze artist or fire-breather? "The freak aspect . . . nontraditional artistry of making fire beautiful."

She'll celebrate such performers with 12 layered looks in her "Audio" line. If you're envisioning clown ruffles and a ringmaster's top hat and tuxedo jacket, you're right on the money.

Spoiler alert: "I love the circus and would love to costume the circus," she said. "For now, I'll outfit models as circus performers."

Tiffany Headley

Age: 23

Headley sketched the sparkling, one-shoulder white dress Teresa Scanlan wore when she was crowned Miss America 2011. She learned how to sew from her grandmother, Donna Faye (Headley named her clothing line after her), and studied fashion design and art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She enjoys designing pageant, prom and wedding dresses with Winning Crown, but aspires to design edgier costumes and clothing. Headley has a fascinating collection of miniature top hats and fascinators (hair-clip accessories).

Spoiler alert: "If I could wear a little black dress every day of my life," she said, "I totally would."

Noah Riewer

Age: 29

A Nebraska-born designer who attended the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, then moved to New York City to break into the cutthroat fashion world. He recently returned to produce a 12-look collection for Omaha Fashion Week. While in the Big Apple, Riewer got notice as a stylist who worked under the likes of Ginny Hilfiger (Tommy's sister) and Tracy Reese. Riewer describes his collection as being "for a girl on the go."

Spoiler alert: "I love corsets," he said. "Anything that accentuates a woman's figure."

Designers' Workspaces

Audi's workspace is made up of two huge tables in the middle of her loft apartment. It includes: cup of chai tea; sketchbook; scraps of fabric from her new collection; a lemon pin cushion she thinks is too pretty to use; the end of a roll of fabric she uses as trim.

Noah's mom's dining room table is his workspace. "In a city like New York you'll find inspiration in the weirdest places." He carries a sketchbook to get his ideas onto paper and make notes. Also on the workspace are feathers used in his designs; sheer fabrics and velvet to give his pieces texture; vintage accessories; and thread used in his designs for the show.

Tiffany's basement desk workspace includes: A book found by her boyfriend for her; a pin cushion that was a Victoria's Secret giveaway that she repurposed; ribbon and flowers used in hats; and lace, which she uses in her designs.

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