After three days full of runway shows and fashion events, Toronto Women’s Fashion Week (TW) has ended and made a successful launch in the Canadian fashion industry. Toronto Women’s Fashion Week was fortunate to have some of the top Canadian fashion designers participating in the events and making TW an outstanding success.
Here are my favourite collections from the third day of Toronto Women’s Fashion Week:
LESLEY HAMPTON
For FW17, Lesley Hampton was exploring the transition between night and day, her collection entitled “The Golden Hour” is inspired by the traditional First Nation belief that dreaming is a way for the inner self to connect with the external environment to provide personal guidance. The palette reflects the tones and colours seen in city skylines and sunsets during this period of the day. The presentation contained two components that aimed to intrigue attendees and trigger reflections about their own self-discovery and inner strength to enhance self-confidence and body empowerment.
“I am collaborating with the Be Body Aware project to promote positive body image and diversity inclusion,” explained designer Lesley Hampton. “This inclusion is two-fold; firstly to pay homage to the First Nation culture, and secondly to present a possible future of inclusion to not only First Nation people into society but of any individual to gain confidence to overcome adversity.”
The collection is composed of polyurethane finished fabrics mixed with intricately embroidered and sequined textiles; including sequined mesh, embroidered lace, marni scuba knit, and Palmira sequins lace.
PEGGY SUE
After winning Toronto Fashion Incubator’s New Label Award in 2016, Peggy Sue returns to the runway with a second collection of sumptuous organic, colour-grown cottons, original print designs, handwoven fabrics and delicate sashiko stitching. Entirely traceable and Made in Canada, the Annual Collection deftly combines aesthetics and ethics. Every garment in the Annual Collection is made from North American organic cotton or Canadian up-cycled denim. This collection explores our love affair with fashion’s favourite textile – cotton – from an ethical luxury point of view.
“When designing the Annual Collection, I focused on three words: connected, conscious, and regenerative. I wanted to create luxe fabrics and fashion-forward designs that celebrated MADE IN CANADA, respected the people of our supply chain and envisioned fashion as a sustainable practice. I wanted to show luxury from an ethical perspective,” said Peggy Sue Deaven-Smiltnieks, founder and creative director of PEGGY SUE.
HENDRIXROE
A true rock n’roll brand, HENDRIXROE pushed the boundaries and created clothing for modern-day rock stars. Girl power was the theme of the night on Sunday as models strutted down the runway with metallic motto-jackets with ‘Property of’ emblazoned on the back – it’s safe to say that this will be the new staple in streetwear. Velvet suits, Jackie-O influenced jackets, and vintage-inspired outerwear dominated the runway. Not only did fashion designer JEM deliver an exceptional debut women’s collection, she also took the opportunity to make a statement on feminism with a performance by three young girls who were recently featured on The Ellen Show.
“Seeing everything come to life on that runway, first of my models truly captured my vision I f***ing love you all – I’m overwhelmed and truly grateful. I still feel like I’m chasing this dream to do what I do and to be so well received- the energy in the room for both shows- I am speechless. Thank you for loving what I pour my heart into. I left everything on that runway,” said JEM.
MIKAEL D
For FW 17/18, MIKAEL D draws on the timeworn traditions of the art deco era and the roaring 20’s while simultaneously celebrating the modern, mechanized world. This extraordinary blend of tradition and progress, combined with a lively eclecticism found throughout the collection’s pieces translates the idea of connectivity through visually stimulating ideas, hence putting forth ultra-modern, violently seducing styles. The collection isn’t one style, but a pastiche of different styles, sources and influences. It is playful, luxurious, exotic, geometric and modern. Its myriad of influences and characteristics have created some of the most captivating silhouettes.
“Toronto has always been an important city to me. It is very exciting to see, year after year how our fashion industry continues to grow and thrive. I am honoured to be apart of it. I look forward to returning to Toronto to present my latest Fall Winer 2017/2018 collection at Toronto Women’s Fashion Week,” said Mikael Derderian, owner and designer of MIKAEL D.
See you next season TW!
