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| John Wagner / Anchorage Daily News |
 That's a wrap: Tanner Randall poses with his clothing line, Nanuq of Alaska, in Anchorage on August 13. Randall runs the fashion clothing line specializing in hats, headbands, scarves, and vests. |
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ANCHORAGE - A funny thing happened for Tanner Randall on the way to fashion school. The designer behind the Nanuq of Alaska label realized that a local kid can be noticed on the big-city style scene.
On a visit to New York City last March the curbside became Randall's catwalk. Wearing a striking gray tweed suit that he designed and constructed himself, he turned heads, had his picture taken and ended up appearing on the fashion page of the New York Press newspaper.
"Ironically, I got a lot of attention there," Randall said. "I thought being in New York, I wouldn't stand out. Here I am, just this little Alaskan!"
And when Randall actually stepped onto the campus of the Fashion Institute of Technology he discovered that overdone trendy looks are universal.
"I thought I would walk around (FIT's) campus being amazed, amazed, amazed. But it was just girls wearing Abercrombie T-shirts and Ugg boots," he said.
He paused, laughed and then added, "So, I'm definitely bringing mine."
Randall, 21, started Nanuq almost two years ago as a way to save money for his fashion education. The initial offerings included crocheted and knitted hats and scarves and eventually expanded to included T-shirts, jackets and belts. The designs have always been true to Randall's Alaska-function-meets-European-chic style.
Now Randall is set for school. He left for the East Coast this month. His course work will include menswear design, pattern making and construction - all core classes toward FIT's associate's degree in menswear.
Even though Randall has primarily produced unisex pieces and a women-only collection for Nanuq, his heart has always been in designing men's clothing.
"That's what attracted me to the Fashion Institute of Technology is that they had this specific menswear program," he said.
Before he left, Randall tied up a few loose local ends, distributing the 2007-08 Nanuq of Alaska collection to his three local retailers last week.
Her Tern, the downtown women's luxury shoe and handbag boutique, will offer hats and scarves made of chunky wool-nylon blends, including handcrafted leather belts and Randall's new signature SoNo cap that features a brim and a pom.
World Cup Sports in Girdwood will carry the Nanuq styles that are geared for the slopes or just slope style, like Sherpa hats, crown headbands and the new alpaca alpine scarf.
Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking in Midtown will carry more functional pieces, such as the merino wool crocheted beanies.
"I wanted to get the collections done before I leave, because once I'm in New York I'm totally focused on school," Randall said.
Which might make you wonder, what's going to happen to Nanuq now?
"That's the question on everybody's minds," Randall said. "I am going to FIT to make connections, get an education, get experience that will only help me expand on my ability for Nanuq," he said.
"I will maintain the collections as they are here in the Anchorage. They won't be as large-scale as they'd be if I were here.
"(Nanuq's) not going to disappear; it might go into hibernation."
