Tulsa is likely not the first place most people think of when it comes to couture fashion, but Parker D. Wayne wants to change that. Whether he’s holding runway shows in parking garages or a sold-out 600-person show in an abandoned church, Wayne’s forward-thinking influence is helping to springboard Tulsa’s growing fashion community into a new era.
A conversation with Wayne is an artistic experience in itself, a fashion-forward force silhouetted by a genuinely warm presence as they draw you into their journey from a youth pastor, to server, stylist and magazine publisher, and now as the founder of The Oklahoma Fashion Alliance.
Founded by Wayne in 2023, Oklahoma Fashion Alliance is a dynamic collective of designers, artists, stylists and creative community members formed to develop the emerging fashion professionals in Tulsa and the surrounding areas through mentorship and work opportunities.
OFA’s upcoming fourth show cycle, (or “OFA4”), will be held May 17 at a yet-to-be-determined location. Each cycle spans six months where artists workshop and develop their collection within the creative community. “Each cycle has had the same base programming, but with each iteration it evolves and becomes more detailed and resourceful,” Wayne says.
Lolly McLain, OFA co-producer and creative director, hints the upcoming show promises to deliver something “loud and charged,” including themes that touch on the current political climate dynamics and how OFA hopes to create a safe environment for emotional and creative expression.
On why OFA is important, McLain says, “It’s critical for Tulsa. So many young people are interested in fashion careers they don’t think that they can have here and that’s why we want to create a community.” She continues, “We lose so many people to bigger, more fashion-focused cities like LA, New York and Chicago. So, why not show people that we have that same interest and opportunity to build on here?”
As the core team prepares the final looks for the May show, we invited Wayne to reminisce about OFA’s origins and goals for its future.
After a two-year ministry program, Wayne served as an associate youth pastor but was eventually let go because their sexual orientation broke the organization’s code of conduct. Wayne describes rejection as a theme in their life, including being let go from the ministry, but it forced the then-21-year-old to truly think about what was next. To some, a pastor turned stylist and fashion alliance founder might seem like an odd path but then again, fashion is so often the juxtaposition of eclectic concepts. For Wayne, it was a turning point in their own self-discovery and integral to their evolving identity as a queer artist.
Coming out of the pandemic, Wayne launched LPBP, a magazine brand featuring their own wardrobe styling. An authentic ode to self, LPBP has dual meaning, both for “Let Parker Be Parker” and “Let People Be People.” LPBP’s first volume, published on social media, eventually grew into launching a styling consulting business.
Wayne’s path to OFA started to rapidly reveal itself after attending New York Fashion Week, when they knew they wanted to host a fashion show in Tulsa. In just six weeks, their first show came together at a coffee venue with 50-60 people in attendance. From there, a second show, and then a third. Soon, Wayne knew they wanted to remain a show designer but realized there were no established resources or organizations that fully supported emerging fashion designers and events.
In 2023, the newly formed Oklahoma Fashion Alliance started work on its first production as a collective.
In OFA1 with the concept of “Street as our Runway,” models were sent to walk through the streets of the Tulsa Arts District followed by a production team member with a spotlight. The event was co-produced with OFA’s creative director and event producer Atlas Fielding, and Wayne recounts the mile-long “runway” was a struggle for some of the models in heels and elaborate apparel. An unexpected crowd gathered and started following the models back to the gallery. Wayne says the response from the audience was they’d never seen anything like it in Tulsa.
Eight months later, there was a collaboration with Rebekah Danae, a local artist and one of Wayne’s mentors.
Last year, OFA hosted its third show cycle, drawing an unexpected crowd of more than 600 that waited for hours to get inside Kendall Whittier’s Artisan Hall, a unique addition to Tulsa’s ever-evolving fashion portfolio not often found in this region.
As the fashion community grows in Tulsa, Wayne describes two future goals for OFA: secure brand partnerships and bringing back Tulsa Fashion Week.
Brand partnerships and funding could continue OFA’s focus on large scale fashion cycles and niche events, but also create sustainable workforce opportunities for designers and artists to launch their businesses in Tulsa, regionally and nationally. Parker says previous shows have been funded through artist grants, community collaborations, ticket sales or their own pocket. Truly running off of a passion for fashion, and the communities response to it — lots of involvement plus time dedication — has kept me going,” they say.
As the upcoming show is expected to be a success, we imagine a Tulsa Fashion Week is close on the horizon for Wayne and OFA.
As they gaze out a foggy coffee shop window, Wayne smiles and says, “I just have this delusional grand vision of re-centralizing the global fashion industry here in Tulsa.”
For more information about OFA and tickets to OFA4 on May 17, visit oklahomafashionalliance.com or find OFA on Instagram at @oklahoma.fashion.alliance.
