Earth Day fashion show allows creativity to flourish
From the time she was 16 years old, Shamika Verdejo wanted to be her own boss. It just took a little longer and a different path than she imagined.
After spending five years in the U.S. Air Force, three years in the Army and a short time as an event planner at Cameron University, Verdejo thrust herself into the world of being a small business owner. All those combined experiences led her to her current lot in life as owner of Verdejo Events LLC, a company that rents chairs, tables and more for just about any event.
Those events range from birthday and graduation celebrations to boxing matches and weightlifting competitions. Verdejo admits she can handle events up to 150 people since she does most of the heavy lifting herself. At times, her mom helps, which is a bonus for the biggest jobs such as the Oklahoma Open Weightlifting Meet recently held in Lawton.
Verdejo acknowledged that her idea of has a small business owner “was all wrong” before starting the event rental company in December 2020.
Her time in the military was as far removed from her current business as one might imagine. During her years in the Army, she was part of an artillery unit that handled 100-pound shells so lifting lightweight chairs and tables has proven to be relatively easy. She left the Army as a First Lieutenant with a six-month deployment to Kuwait under her belt.
Verdejo acknowledged that she’s developed a “structure” for herself and her customers who know they can find out the latest news about her business on Facebook and Google. She also promotes that Verdejo Events has a veteran-owned business designation from the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs and a woman-owned business certificate from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Those two certifications, she said, will help her with government contracts at Fort Sill or other governmental entities.
The rental equipment includes large and small tables, cocktail height tables, padded and non-padded chairs, table covers, table runners, canopy tents, speaker with tripod and gold microphones, backdrops, candelabras and feather flags.
Verdejo remembers she opted to forego event planning as a business after an anniversary celebration taught her a valuable lesson.
“I love the simplicity of the rentals,” she said, adding the anniversary party was anything but simple. “I’m still working with people, and it is diverse with different types of events. It’s not mundane. There’s enough versatility where you don’t get bored with it.”
Earth Day fashions
Verdejo still keeps her hand on event planning by coordinating her own Earth Day Art Fashion Show, which she began last year. This year’s show is set for 7 p.m., Saturday, April 22 at the Crystal Creek Room inside the Comanche County Fairgrounds.
But, she says, that’s the extent of event planning for her.
Verdejo designs all the costumes, which are made from real plants, such as banana leaves, sunflowers, lemon grass, acorns and bamboo shoots. Verdejo decided to start the Earth Day fashion show to promote the preservation of the world’s natural resources.
Last year’s inaugural event sold out as people “showed a lot of curiosity,” she said.
She selected each of the 10 models for this year’s show as they represent each season or an element of the Earth. She also chose each song that will be accompany the models as they show off each costume, contracted with show vendors and obtained sponsorships.
“Doing events that require creativity is what I’m drawn to,” Verdejo said.
The event is semiformal for people 18 and older. The fashion show is supported, in part, by the Lawton Arts and Humanities and the McMahon Auditorium Authority. Tickets, which are $20, are available on Verdejo Events Facebook page, Ticketstorm.com or by calling (580) 919-3592.