Lewisville resident to appear on NBC’s Fashion Star

by Heather M. Goodwin of Star Local News

Oscar Fierro will be one of 14 designers competing to win the latest fashion show.

Oscar Fierro from NBC's Fashion Star

A Lewisville fashion designer will get the chance to become the next Oscar De La Renta or Vera Wang when he appears on a new reality show.

Lewisville resident Oscar Fierro was chosen to be a contestant on NBC's Fashion Star. Fierro will be one of 14 designers competing to become America's next big fashion icon. Fashion Star premieres at 8:30 p.m. March 13 on NBC. It will air every Tuesday.

"Typically, I would not do a reality show or competition, but when I found out about the show, and who was going to be on it, I thought I had to do it," Fierro said. "This was a way to bypass cable and hit network television. I was lucky enough to be picked from thousands. It was hard to get on the show. The application process was grueling and psychologically hard. You had to have your A game at all times, but I would do it again in [a] heartbeat."

Fashion Star scoured the country in search for the next big brand in fashion. The show features host and executive producer Elle Macpherson along with celebrity mentors Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie, and John Varvatos. The series will give 14 unknown designers the chance to win a multi-million dollar prize to launch their collections in three of America's largest retailers Macy's, H&M, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Fierro began designing and making clothes when he was 11 years old.

"I spotted a beautiful girl and wanted to make dress for her for her to enter into a pageant, which she won," Fierro said. "Designing that was just one of those ah-ha moments. The first thing I thought when I saw her, was that we need to do something with that beauty."

Fierro grew up in a poverty-stricken town in El Salvador. He said that only further fed his desire to become successful. Currently, Fierro owns four assisted living facilities and has designed several clothing lines including couture dresses and a "to go" line, which features women's wear for less than $30.

"At one point, I had my own store, but I went belly up because the rent was too high," Fierro said. "I made the hard decision to close the store because at that time it wasn't the right thing to do."

On March 1, Fierro will launch his online store at www.oscarfierro.net. He said the site will feature his designs ranging from high-end fashion to the "to go" line.

"When I design, I stay away from trends and design what I want. The first thing is to walk through fabric stores and let the fabric talk to me," Fierro said. "I don't sketch, I drape across the dress form because I get a better sense of how the fabric will fall off the body. I go into stores with an empty cabinet and walk out with idea of design."

Fierro said his motto when designing is "more is more." He said he is over the top, and his designs represent that.

Fierro said his favorite clothing to design is evening wear.

"I like to make things that are big, exciting, and exotic," Fierro said.

Fierro said his favorite designer is De La Renta because he has been able to survive the fashion industry, and his style is classy and elegant.

"I can see a lady wearing his design, and I don't have to see the label to know it's one of his creations. I think as a designer that's something I envy, and I would like to achieve," Fierro said. "For me, as a designer, the most gratifying moment is, after working so hard on making a collection, to see it on the runway and see the reactions of people. It's like a mother seeing her daughter's wedding or graduation."