The “Oneofakind Baton Rouge Fashion Week” had its first show in 2014 and was met with rapturous applause.
The event returns tonight it begins its 2016 season with the OBRFW Goes to School and OBRFW III: For Kids By Kids events. Tomorrow night at 7 p.m., OBRFW opens its doors to the second event of the week: BARE at the LSU Museum of Art.
Both today and Friday’s shows lead up to the grand finale on Feb. 27 at Capitol Park Museum. OBRFW III: BIG Night concludes the week with multiple designers showing off their garments with the state capitol as a backdrop.
Brandon Campbell is the brains behind the week, and this is not the first time he’s brought a fashion week to a city.
Originally, Campbell found enormous success with his “Little Rock Fashion Week,” in Arkansas and started looking to branch out in other cities.
“I talked with ‘Visit Baton Rouge’ and it seemed like they were behind the idea of bringing ‘fashion week’ here,” Campbell said.
However, Baton Rouge was not just another city on the list. Campbell said he’s admired Louisiana’s Capital City for years.
Campbell’s favorite football player, Warrick Dunn, grew up in Baton Rouge and had to raise his siblings after his mother died in the line of duty as a police officer.
“It was an inspirational story,” Campbell said. “That is what really put Baton Rouge in my psyche.”
OBRFW’s creator found himself taking several business trips to New Orleans and Baton Rouge. After a while, he just started returning for the fun of it.
“I really fell in love with that area,” he said.
That is why, in 2012, when the Capitol Park Museum asked to partner with him to bring his “Fashion Week” to its venue, it was a yes.
The entire week of shows will feature over 16 models from around the country.
Cara Grayson is currently a senior at Little Rock Central High and is one of the models who will be appearing in this year’s show.
Grayson signed Campbell as her modeling agent last summer, and this will be the first fashion show she has done with him outside of Arkansas.
“It has always been my dream to be on ‘America’s Next Top Model,’” Grayson said.
Ever since she was a young girl being called “Little Tyra Banks” by friends and family, she said she has wanted to be a model. Grayson sees her work in the fashion weeks as a big step forward for her.
The young model said being on the runway makes her feel powerful and helpful.
“My hope is that I am able to represent the designers in the best way possible,” Grayson said.
Port Allen-based designer Dana Ayo is one of the designers you can see throughout fashion week.
Ayo is the owner of HD Bling. She designs clothing for women for elegant events or casual outings.
“Women have always had to resort to frumpy T-shirts that guys wear,” she said. “I wanted to create something for women that can boost a woman’s confidence.”
This is her first time having her work modeled in OBRFW.
“We are hoping people come see what we are doing, network with one another and have a great time,” she said.
Tickets for each event or for weekend passes can be purchased on OBRFW’s website or Ticket Leap. Tonight and Friday’s events will cost $30 and Saturday’s BIG night will cost $50. A ticket for all three days costs $100.