Former Detroiter Competing To Become A "Fashion Star"

NEW YORK (WWJ) - A former Detroiter took a gamble and it paid off big. And now, Nzimiro Oputa is a budding designer in The Big Apple.

In competition to become NBC's "Fashion Star," Oputa's signature "Blue Mark" jacket went on sale at H&M.

"This blazer at H&M is a linen wool-blend blazer with brown suede elbow patches," Oputa said. "This jacket has one button; it has my signature pockets on it and these signature pockets are chest pockets that slant."

After graduating from King High School and then Michigan State University, Oputa went to work as an engineer, but never gave up on his dream.

"I pretty much locked myself in my apartment for the entire summer and taught myself how to sew, created my blog and from my blog, it kind of got a little, you know, a little bit of a following."

Oputa's second piece, a gray contrast-trim Western shirt, was the first look that all three buyers -- for H&M, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue -- wanted to carry in their stores. It's on sale now at Macy's.

Although Oputa is still employed at his full-time gig as an engineer, he's in hot pursuit of his dream job as a designer. And, if the success he's had so far with his first two designs are any indication, he's about to see his dream come true.

Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee