Phil Sparks Shows Pre-LG to Rave Reviews
March 16th, 2009 | posted by Rachel S | Posted in T.O Designers , Toronto Fashion Week
Call it Canadian Pride. Maybe it’s because we haven’t been hit as badly by the Recession as the US – or maybe it’s because Quebecois Soldiers were damn good-looking – but Canadian Pride is in the air and Phil Sparks is leading the pack. Sparks showed his Fall ’09 collection last week at the historic and newly restored Burroughs building after making his New York Debut last season.
The Burroughs building – where his studio is located as well – is quickly becoming one of the hottest spots for designers and artists to show their work. With it’s brick walls, wooden floors and high beam ceilings it was the perfect space to show off his rustic-Canadian tailoring. He has already earned himself rave reviews from the Star, who labelled him “one of Canada’s preminent menswear designers” and from Holts menswear buyer Andrew Lepp. Despite doubts from some about the ability of designers to show successfully without the media support from LG fashion week, the runway room looked packed to capacity as the show started.
Inspired by the 1936 Russian fairytale ‘Peter and the Wolf’, Sparks clothes are wearable and perfectly tailored, but peppered to the limit with cheeky Canadiana references like hunting sweaters and caps, long johns and of course perfect plaid flannel shirts. Sparks credits many trips to the reference library to research early Canadian costumes for the authentic look of the collection. Boyfriends beware – you’ll have ladies sneaking his stuff into your closets this season faster than you can say “Habitants”!
Tags: fall2009
