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As Paris Fashion Week winds down, you may think you’ve seen it all — but as you may know, fashion never sleeps and Fashion Week is no exception. The showcase events featuring the best of fashion will forage beyond the “Big Four” — New York, London, Milan, and Paris — and this week, it’s in Canada.
Though it may come as a surprise that Canada’s signature Toronto Fashion Week is a buzzworthy event, but the lineup of the designer talent the week will feature is something of a hidden gem. The event is backed by the Fashion Designers Council of Canada (aka FDCC, the Canadian counterpart to the CFDA) as well as corporate sponsor, MasterCard. Media sponsors include local publications ELLE Canada and Flare Magazine, guaranteeing a range of legitimate coverage from the country’s best fashion circles.
Take a look at some of the range of designers who will show at Toronto Fashion Week. These up-and-comers are a dynamic group with a refreshing take on what Canadian fashion is really about.
ADRIAN WU
Adrian Wu, Spring/Summer 2012
Adrian Wu, Spring/Summer 2012
Adrian Wu, Spring/Summer 2012
At just 21 years old, Adrian Wu made a statement splash within the Canadian fashion scene and a reputable name for himself when he debuted at LG Toronto Fashion Week late last year. The images featured above are from that very event showcasing his Spring/Summer 2012 collection. Perhaps they’re not as ready-to-wear as we would like for our own wardrobes, but Wu articulates a focused vision through his play with volume, colors, and patterns. With only one featured collection under his belt, Wu is looking to further his impact in Toronto this week with his Fall/Winter 2012 collection.
(Images: Front Row Mag)
CHLOE COMME PARRIS
Chloe Comme Parris, Spring/Summer 2012
Chloe Comme Parris, Spring/Summer 2012
Sisters Chloe and Parris Gordon are the creative masterminds behind the Toronto-based contemporary label, Chloe Comme Parris. Consider them Canada’s own Rodarte duo — two fashion-savvy sisters who have taken contemporary, edgy fashion into their own hands. Their inspiration for the collection is the traditional and worldly custom of adornment, and together they seek to translate this “old” into the modern, wearable pieces they create. Though the brand is relatively young, having been founded only three years ago, the Gordon sisters have garnered their own cult-like following from Toronto’s fashionables. They have received considerable press from the local media, including a wide variety of blogs and Canadian fashion bible, Flare.
(Images: Chloe Comme Parris S/S 2012 Lookbook)
PINK TARTAN
Pink Tartan, Fall 2012
Pink Tartan, Fall 2012
Pink Tartan, Fall 2012
The initial idea for Pink Tartan was born nearly ten years ago in 2002, when designer Kimberly Newport-Mimran developed an aesthetic around “Pink” — a brand that reflected Kimberly’s personal style and one which became eponymous with a classic, polished style of today’s modern woman. Since then, Pink Tartan has grown consistently with its original brand concept and appeal for sophisticates everywhere. The collection can now be found virtually anywhere via retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, and Lord & Taylor, as well as the company’s flagship shop in Toronto.
(Images: Pink Tartan)
CAITLIN POWER
Caitlin Power, Spring/Summer 2012
Caitlin Power, Spring/Summer 2012
Caitlin Power, Spring/Summer 2012
23-year-old Caitlin Power is a newcomer to the Canadian fashion circle, but her name has become a popular trend among those well-versed in her signature edgy-sleek pieces. A Calgary native, Power studied fashion at Lethbridge College and established herself for the first time at the Emerging Designer Contest during Edmonton Fashion Week 2008, shortly after launching her self-titled brand. Since then, Power has been named as one of “Top 10 Designers to Watch” by Avenue Magazine, and further established her brand at the Toronto Fashion Incubators: New Labels Competition in 2011. This week, Caitlin Power’s impeccably tailored pieces will definitely be among the ones to watch.
(Images: Caitlin Power)
