Editor's Note: Immediate Past President Pam Markel has been researching NCA history. Here she shares with us a story about another past president, Dwayne Ibsen of Ibsen Costume Gallery in Omaha.
Did you know……. Past President Dwayne Ibsen designed and created the inaugural gown in 1987 for the governor elect of the State of Nebraska, Kay Orr?
“It was an exciting challenge. After a briefing session with Mrs. Orr’s staff, Dwayne Ibsen created a number of designs that were discussed, changed, eliminated and finally decided upon. Then came the choice of fabric and corresponding beads. (Of course, the entire staff was relegated to beading an entire gown in two weeks’ time). A Press Conference was held by Mrs. Orr at Ibsen Costume Gallery. All state newspapers, radio, and television stations were in attendance and the shop was especially proud of the front-page color picture of Dwayne Ibsen and Mrs. Orr looking at fabric and beads.
With only days until the inauguration, twelve tireless people worked shifts, sewing bead after bead. With less than four days from the event, the seamstress finally got her chance. Two days before the Ball, Mrs. Orr had a first fitting. The final fitting was at the Governor’s Mansion the morning of the celebration.
After a successful final fit, the entire staff of Ibsen’s attended the Ball and were the subject of a television special. The piece including the preliminaries of starting the gown, the beading and fittings and ended “live” with a final interview on the edge of the dance floor.
Ibsen Costume Gallery was proud it could step into high fashion and was honored to be chosen to create such a prestigious garment. It will now be permanently displayed in the Mansion Museum.
It was exhausting, thrilling, stressful and frightening, to be challenged such as this. The publicity was incredible and the final result most joyous. (We would all do it again in a minute) Who knows…a new career move may have just happened for this small Omaha Costume shop.
Beaders that N.C.A. members will remember are Dwayne Ibsen, Robin Ibsen, Vicky Sayles, Howard Swain, Deborah Duggan, Rick Adams and Ina Weiner.”
At the Inauguration, the staff from Ibsen Costume Gallery wore Blue Ribbons imprinted with “Beaders to the Governor."
**This was an article taken from the February 1987 issue of the Costumer Magazine.