Thread Man Walking

"And then I decided, 'OK, I'm ready to paint,'" he says. Thus was Niilartey born.

Inside his back production room, De Osu is surrounded by models, who are getting the rundown of the evening's events from Ullie De Osu, the coordinator of tonight's salon. Her future husband stands with his back to his desk, beneath a wall plastered with pictures, including a trio of his heroes: Jackson, Obama, and Tupac. For the occasion, De Osu is wearing a silver sequined jacket similar to the one Jackson made famous. He looks like a disco ball.

Steven Dewall

Shown in his Western Avenue showroom, De Osu can’t sew a stitch, nor does he sketch his eccentric designs.

Steven Dewall

De Osu’s shop has attracted its share of sidewalk oglers.

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More About

• Niilartey De Osu
• Tamara Lily
• Richael Manisha Karter
• Fashion and Style
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

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The curtain closes, and from behind it Karter can be heard directing traffic. She manages Neodandi, and if fashion design is a form of art, then she is De Osu's canvas—nearly every garment hanging in the Neodandi showroom was fitted on her.

A year ago, just a few days back from a brief and "unfulfilling" stay in Portland, Karter was walking around downtown Seattle, fresh from an interview at a clothing store she's now too embarrassed to name, when De Osu abruptly stopped her on the street. He asked if she wanted to take part in a fashion show he was holding later in the week. She went home and logged on to his online gallery, fell in love with his work, and later got in touch to tell De Osu that she'd do whatever Neodandi needed. She's worked for him ever since.

Tonight's salon is a "fashion opera" in tribute to Michael Jackson. Karter, like the rest of the Neodandi staff in attendance, is one flute of champagne ahead of the rest of the crowd. Onstage, a Jackson impersonator is pantomiming dance moves to a mixtape of the singer's greatest hits. About 40 or 50 attendees, who paid a $50 entry fee, mill about and try not to look square. They're here in part to raise money for Seattle Children's Hospital: Tonight's show is also a charity event.

For the past few Saturdays, Neodandi has played host to less-grandiose affairs. But tonight they have sponsors, such as Seattle Metropolitan, and free booze. The show starts, and De Osu stands near the back, watching as the models walk by. On the wall overhead is stenciled the store motto: "In our wake, birds fly." He is soon greeted by a familiar guy with a mop of gray hair and pants tighter than a 16-year-old emo kid's. They banter about this motto, which De Osu and his staff have worked long hours trying to put together in time for tonight's show.

Later, a woman who confesses to have spent a small fortune at Neodandi stands near the stage, as Karter and a succession of impeccably coiffed hipsters re-enact classic Jackson dance moves.

"No one is fucking doing anything like this," she observes.

No one except Niilartey De Osu—whoever he might be.

vcoleman@seattleweekly.com