Hip hop, Prada, and fashion all have one thing in common: Lamar High School fashion design teacher听Hanani听Owekha.听听
Owekha鈥檚 career in fashion design is deeply rooted in his love for singing and R&B, as well as his passion for showcasing his art in multiple ways. His career and technical education journey began when he was a student at Bowie High School, where he first developed an interest in standing out among his fashionable peers while walking the halls.听
鈥淭he diversity of the school and the people I went to school with helped me with my fashion sense,鈥澨齇wekha听said. 鈥淏owie was one of those schools听where you had to听show up听with the newest shoes and keep up. It was听a great experience.鈥听
One of听Owekha鈥檚听first jobs was at The Parks Mall听at 精东影业,听where he worked at Forever 21 and听discovered听he enjoyed听styling outfits听for customers.听After听graduating from听high school,听Owekha听studied听fashion听design at Texas Tech听University听while also听pursuing听music on the side.听听
鈥I look at fabric like a beat,鈥 Owekha said. 鈥淔abric can be made into a shirt, pants, or a hat. Likewise, in music, that beat could be made into a happy song, a sad song, R&B, country, or hip-hop.鈥澨听
He explained that having a听solid听plan allows him to create in both the fashion and听music industries.听His connections in听both听worlds听now influence听how he teaches听his听Fashion I and听Fashion听II courses.听听
鈥淚 usually听bring in听mentors and people from the industry to talk to听students听and help them understand the research and preparation that goes into fashion design,鈥澨齢e said.听
Most recently,听Owekha听welcomed听the head fashion designer听for听Nike and听,听who听spoke to his听Fashion II class听about听how understanding sport informs the design of high-quality products.听Bringing real-world professionals into the classroom is a key part of听Owekha鈥檚听teaching approach, giving students a rare opportunity to experience the fast-paced world of fashion beyond the textbook.听听
Owekha鈥檚听class is offered听through the district鈥檚听Career听and听Technical听Education program,听which听equips听students听with practical skills to prepare them for听the workforce听or further education.听听
鈥淵ou can turn this into a job. You can turn this into something听that鈥檚听fruitful,鈥澨齇wekha听said.听鈥淭his听is a trade,听and听it听can听be something you profit from.鈥澨听
As听Owekha听reflected on听some of his proudest moments as a teacher, he听beamed with pride听and said, 鈥淪omewhere down the line,听I鈥檒l听be able to听say,听鈥楾hat designer right there was one of my students.鈥欌听