Caine Westergard held the spotlight this past August as she watched her designs hit the runway at Omaha Fashion Week.

Westergard, a junior in Apparel, Merchandising, and Design, was given the opportunity of a lifetime when she joined hands with Jeff Hanson. Hanson is a legally blind 18-year-old man who, after developing eye cancer, began painting abstract images for philanthropic efforts.

In July, Nick and Brooke Hudson, the founders of Omaha Fashion week, chose Hanson as a featured designer in the show. Through connections, Hanson reached out to Westergard for help with this opportunity, and with only three weeks before the big day, Westergard took on the task of creating three garments for the show that stood as a canvas for Hanson’s paintings.

Westergard was given hundreds of Hanson’s paintings as inspirations to choose from for her designs. Along with a full-time internship with Wes & Willy, Westergard had her hands full, but was able to complete the pieces, later mailed to Jeff for hand painting.

Once Westergard arrived in Omaha for the show, she was able to fit her dresses to models and decide on the best hair and make-up to showcase her designs. The runway at Omaha Fashion Week was not your typical 72-foot runway — rather, it was the length of a football field, giving the audience more of an opportunity to really look at the garments and show off the designs.

Hanson’s organization, the Jeff Hanson Foundation has benefited many causes. Since age 14, he has raised and donated over $700,000. His goal by age 20 is to make it over $1,000,000. The money made from this event will go to this foundation, which in turn is all donated to the Make a Wish Foundation or the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Omaha Fashion Week has invited both Westergard and Hanson back for next year. They are now working together to create a full spring line consisting of 8-12 pieces that will showcase Westergard’s designs and Hanson’s paintings. Omaha Fashion Week has also offered Westergard the incredible opportunity to have her own full collection in the show, and she will further design to raise money for the Jeff Hanson Foundation.