A swastika design was reported at Omaha Fashion Week, sparking controversy after a social media post surfaced, showing one of designer Kelli Molczyk’s garments with what many perceived to be a swastika. Molczyk has defended the design, claiming it was a misunderstanding. However, some observers remain unconvinced.
Whitney Hansen, who was among the first to call out the design, expressed her disgust on Facebook, where she shared a post condemning the garment. “I felt completely disgusted that anyone would make such a mistake and put a blatant symbol of violence and the death of millions of people on an article of clothing,” Hansen said. Her post quickly went viral, being shared and reposted hundreds of times.
Hansen raised several questions, demanding answers from Omaha Fashion Week about how the garment made it to the runway. “Why didn’t anyone else backstage say something? Why didn’t somebody take the jacket and tear it apart or throw it in the trash? Why did someone put that back on Kelly’s rack? Why did the model standing behind her not say anything? Why did anyone out there let it go out for photos?” she asked.
KMTV reporter Hannah McIlree sought answers from OFW owner Brook Hudson regarding how an item that appeared to feature a swastika was allowed to be displayed. Hudson explained that during the final check, staff members conduct a thorough review of all garments, looking for issues like safety concerns, offensive designs, and overall styling to ensure the show runs smoothly. “They look for things that are offensive and they look at the styling to make sure it’s a good show,” Hudson said. “We do tend to trust headlining designers more because they’re more seasoned and experienced.”
Hudson further stated that three weeks before the show, designers must participate in a “rack check,” where a selection panel ensures the designs are appropriate for the runway. However, she acknowledged that not all of Molczyk’s designs were reviewed during this check due to her status as a headlining designer.
When the model wearing the garment walked the runway, Hudson said the production team immediately realized the issue. “When the model turned, the whole production team was texting like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a swastika. We’ve got to remove that immediately.’ So, one of our volunteers backstage ripped the jacket off of her and sent her back out without it,” Hudson explained.
After the event, Omaha Fashion Week issued an apology to staff and attendees. The show’s producer also posted a statement on Facebook, expressing regret and announcing that Molczyk would not be invited to participate in future events. “The image is triggering for many people. As much as we say our community does not allow hate speech and we don’t allow bullying, people will slip things through. We stop them as soon as we know about it,” the statement read.
Molczyk, who previously served as the Senior Vice President of Women’s Merchandising for Buckle, has been an active participant in Omaha Fashion Week as a selection panelist in recent years. This was, however, her first year showcasing her own collection. In response to the controversy, Molczyk stated that all of her materials are upcycled and that the design was a misunderstanding. “The design for the outfit at Omaha Fashion Week came from an antique pinwheel quilt remnant that I purchased from a well-known store in Central Nebraska two years ago,” she explained.
Hudson mentioned that Omaha Fashion Week is still evaluating what additional precautions should be implemented going forward. She assured that all future garments will undergo a more thorough vetting process.
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