[FAT] Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week closed with a ‘Mad Maus’ After Party – conceived/inspired by artist Gibran Ramos who’s leading an ‘international movement where fashion, art, design and electronic music collide with our fascination for pop culture”. At occasional Mad Maus parties, guests are asked to ‘re-interpret the era’s aesthetic and to make a hat with mouse’s ears.’
All photos either John Lee or Stan Olkha for Digitalfabrik

The fourth and final night of FAT burns with creative energy.  The entrance is a whir of camera clicks as Carolee Custus, Sai Sivanesan, and Susie Love turn a live photo shoot into performance art with “Joy is My Muse”.  Take a few more steps into the event and catch a glimpse of b-boys are rocking out in the middle of the bar.  There is a collective cringe as heads spin on the concrete floor, but they bounce back as b-boys do.

The cringe continues as some designers show vision and wit, but a want of basic sewing skills.  (A hint to young designers – if your sewing isn’t up to snuff, seek out the expertise of the Portugese, Vietnamese and Eritrian ladies who used to press the pedal to the treadle when our upscale condos used to be clothing factories).   As a last resort, one can always throw a real pig’s heart into the hands of a model on point….  (We never said [FAT] was for the faint of heart!).

Most of the designers are more fabulous than filmsy, however.  Felicia Burke (above) reminds us no fashion show is complete without a live MC who raps to an origami odyssey in poppy red and cerulean blue, the work has a wonderfully de Stijl edge.

Fiore pushes the performance envelope, abandoning music almost entirely, as models in a copper froth of meticulously feathered detail flit down the runway to the simple sounds of birdsong.  Brazilian artist Baby Steinberg (below) indulges in a hedonistic garden of joyous florals – tulips, hibiscus and peonies run riot in a frenzy of femininity.  For those who want a piece of FAT to take home, many of the designers are carried by the better boutiques in Toronto, and  for the first time, FAT offers a market for those who can make it out of bed on Sunday.

Cheers to Vanja Vasic and all the artists who make FAT the most dynamic event on the continent.

www.getfat.ca

by Rachel Schwab

Designer Dianna DiNoble of Starkers with model friends (l) Gail McInnes and (r) Ainsley Kerr

For the second night of Toronto’s Alternative Arts & Fashion Week 2010 - the theme was LUST and included hours of sheer, boned, feathered and silky wearables; along with miles of PVC, full-body make-up and even ‘Crotch Studies’, a photo exhibit by Benjamin Larose.

Starkers Corsetry by Dianna DiNoble led the fashion pack with an elaborate showing of gothic gals tied up in Edwardian blouses and 18th century corsets; decorated with feathers and ribbons; all set to a live rock opera by award-winning dramatic coloratura soprano Patrizia.

Diepo followed, showing a glamourous line of vintage-inspired underwear – bustiers, silk jumpers, camisoles -meant as outerwear for more the more feminine ladies among us. Next, One of Us Swimwear – love the one pieces that look like two with crisscrosses up the torso but you can design your own on their website. Pink Lady Fashion closed the first set with an “Anvil” collection, clothes adorned with chains and metal – and even more skin!

Even among painted ladies, leather and lace, Evan Biddell managed to steal the spotlight with his ‘refined’ collection of hyper-studded vests and full-body pop art prints. He handpicked his model friends that included Pastel Supernova, Leesa Butler of the FList, stylist Sarah J, Kealan Sullivan of 69 Vintage and Magnet Creative’s Gail McInnes, to name a few. After the show, the pack took their seats in the front row for the rest of the set.

Cherry Dewar of Dewar Couture (who previously worked with Evan Biddell) showed equally fierce warrior-like swimsuits (metallic-look), and leather-accented knickers and tops – all one-of-a-kind ’street couture’ pieces.

digitalfabrik photos by Stan Olkha

Jessica Clayton showed another fabulously moody black and white collection of tiered-skirts, lacy shirts and classic-styled sassy cocktail dresses, some embellished with a hint of sparkle from mini studs.

Unfortunately I missed the last set of Pippa, Fashion Whore and Artifice – and all the yards and yards of PVC in every color (even pastels), sewn into the most creative and playful (and of course lustful) looks for every inner-domanatrix.

Judging from the photos I saw, ImagoZine, as always, put on an over the top extravaganza of make-up, costume and performance – really, really elaborate and time-consuming. Check out some ImagoZine on YouTube >>

construct(this) is Heidi Ackermanʼs third collection presented at Alternative Arts and Fashion Week. This Spring/Summer 2010 collection explores and expands upon Heidiʼs obsession with architecture, futurism and abstraction.

Pulling inspiration from the Russian avant garde movements of the early 20th century construct(this) combines contradictory materials and patterns to create controlled chaos on the body. Experimentation with vegetable tanned leather, thin curved metal and deconstructed knits will create a provocative tension for the wearer and observer.

I won’t be attending the third nite of [FAT] Friday, April 23, 2010 and will be missing some amazing fashion shows including:

David Wigley
Youth.InAsia by Joshua Shier
Heidi Ackerman
Romandin by Cristina Sabaiduc

Anna Smutny will be doing a performance piece; DJ Discrete will make a rare appearance; and Christabel will be performing!

Liberty Village, 1 Pardee Ave. 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. Licensed! $30 at the door

by Liza Zawadzka

photo ‘Jasper Garvida’ by Stan Olkha

In it’s fifth year,  [FAT] celebrates Toronto’s alternative art and fashion scene in a lavish celebration of style. With over 200 participants and 50 designers, FAT has become one of North America’s premier fashion events, yet director Vanja Vasic maintains her integrity and committment to a divergent vision.

Set in a film studio in Liberty Village, the venue is reminiscent of a Sonic Youth concert in a New York underpass circa 1984.  The sprawling industrial site is turned into a hedonistic labrynth of installation, video, performance and photography.  True to Toronto’s reputation as an opera nation, the week kicks off with a contemporary ballet accompanied by an aria that would make Maria Callas shiver with envy. As it happens the work was choreographed by none other than styling bad boy, Marq Frerichs, who turns out to be a trendsetter in dance as much as in fashion.  Who knew?

As I make my way through the various installations in the back rooms, I come across a fantasy set complete with a scantily clad lad in a sailor outfit that looks like it’s seen the better days of a Rotweiller attack massaging another man.  The scene would make Quentin Crisp look butch, and I immediately protest – what about me and my heterosexual rights to a great massage?  Quicker  than I can bat a fake eyelash, two gay gentlemen have discreetly disrobed me and I find myself on the table with every knotted muscle soothed and kneaded. I descend into heavenly bliss…… only to open my eyes to the sound of the clicks and whirs of cameras which remind me I have become part of the performance.  Oh well, the sacrifices we make for art.

Much relaxed and with my bones crunched back into their proper place, I enjoy another round of exceptional style.  Filipino-Canadian Jasper Garvida, recently crowned winner of Project Catwalk, showed an exceptional collection of sheared beaver coats in Art Deco malachite green and black.  True to [FAT] philosophy, the runway glitters with designers sharpening the cutting edge of style while maintaining aesthetic and creative integrity. The models are reflective of the gorgeous diversity of our city – a welcome break from the aenemic coathangers that plague LG Fashion Week.  The crowd is packed to the walls, and the vibe is celebratory, relaxed and most important – fabulously fun.

Square Root of Two – Netherlands

Sheridan College Textile Studio

Part of the driving force: (l)  Vessna Perunovich, Wesley Badanjak and Vanja Vasic

U.S. Performer Jet Phynx will be performing at [FAT] Thursday, April 22, 2010

This is the fifth season of [FAT] – Alternative Arts & Fashion Week in Toronto. This time it’s five nights in Liberty Village (1 Pardee) – a decorated warehouse space where independent designers, artists and musicians passionately prepare and perform for our viewing pleasure.

I always rave about the chill vibe at [FAT] and this time is no different – except the new venue in Liberty Village is even more like a (well-curated) house party. Instead of an expanse of space, the festival; the art; the fashion; and the music is spread throughout the space behind curtains and doors. Turn a corner for a new room – and then follow a wall towards an almost secret hall.

The seven art exhibits - The Dressing Room Project - are housed in individual rooms behind the main runway curtain, while video projections and short films can be viewed from benches in the “main” entrance area. The runway is fabulously staged with plenty of space – and the entire show is filmed and streamed around the room.

[FAT] continues for four more days. See schedule at http://www.getfat.ca. 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. Licensed!

The performance pieces always amaze me. They’re long enough to be awed, yet short enough to appreciate. This is 3 Solos 1 Duet by Marq Frerichs (the male dancer). I’m sorry I don’t know the name of the soloist (lady in middle) – but she sang opera for the entire length of the powerful dance sequence. What a beautiful beginning to [FAT].

Talented Toronto hip hop artist Miles Jones put on a really great performance. So glad they put some hip hop into the alternative mix!

You can find this shady masseuse (and actually get a massage) at the end of a hallway (past the loo) – The Pump Room

‘Hello Gorgeous’ (David Anderson/Slavica Panic) is lipstick and mirrors – a great pit stop where gals and guys alike hang out and draw hearts and stuff around the room.

How’s this for instant PR? Fashion globetrotter Jeanne Beker showed her support for a designer friend of her daughter’s – Hillary Sampliner for Ruth Weil. She almost got smoked out from an over-powered smoke machine in the beginning of the Davidamor show; but she was bright-eyed and back on Twitter backstage when I got this shot of designer with Jeanne.

This Davidamor finale dress is reminiscent of the [FAT] we’re used to, although for Day 1 at least, the collections have been very toned down – practically wearable!

UK-basedd designer Jasper Garvida once again flew in to present his Fall 2010 collection – an art deco, fur-full, gorgeous 20s inspired line – that was by far, the best showing of the night. Deserving of its own post, photos will follow!

photos: International designers Jasper Garvida (England) and Square Root of Two (Netherlands) will be showing collections this Wednesday at [FAT].

Alternative Arts & Fashion Week [FAT]
April 21-25, 2010
Liberty Village – Studio City – 1 Pardee Ave.
6 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily
WWW.GETFAT.CA

www.alternativefashionweek.com

|FAT| Celebrates 5 Years!
APRIL 21 – 25 / 2010

|FAT| Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week celebrates it’s fifth year anniversary, staging a dynamic 5 day event at it’s new home within Studio City’s Film Studio Complex in Liberty Village.

|FAT| 2010 presents over 50 runway shows, live bands, photography exhibits, video screenings, art installations and multi-media parties celebrating national and international leaders in design, music arts and culture.

The fifth year anniversary edition of FAT titled “Made with Love” approaches fashion, art and music from the intelligence of the heart, surveying a different emotion each night.

april 21 |LONGING| is a wishful, contemplative and hopeful reflection on fashion through design, art, performance and music. Artists reference history and culture or look to the future in their quest for an ideal place, person, state and time.

april 22 |LUST| tackles issues around sexuality, desire, the body, identity and gender play, exploring the playful, luring and daring side of sexuality, clothing and seduction.

april 23 |RAGE| investigates a raw, youthful energy that is fighting, fiery and engaged. Designers and artists expose the exploding, conflicted and powerful tendencies of imbalance and frustration.

april 24 |JOY| surveys fashion and clothing from a colourful, energetic and fun point of view, showcasing fashion designers, performers, artists and musicians whose work is whimsical, playful and outrageous.

april 25 |MARKET| explores the emotion of fulfillment through a unique shopping experience. From 11:00AM – 1:00PM the industry is invited for an exclusive viewing opportunity of |FAT|’s best collections over mimosas and croissants. From 1-5pm FAT welcomes the pubic to purchase clothing hot off the runway.

TICKETS:
$25 DAY PASS
$70 WEEK PASS
@
The Rage: 2 Kensington Ave. Kensington Market
Jazma Hair Inc: 8 St. Joseph St (Young & Wellesley)
MOOG Audio: 442 Queen St West
Angel Gallery: 12 Ossington Ave (Queen and Ossington).
Everyone Is An Artist: 289 Queen Street East

$30/DAY @ THE DOOR

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.GETFAT.CA
STUDIO CITY – LIBERTY VILLAGE – ONE PARDEE AVE.
6PM – 1AM DAILY

Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week – Call for Designers, Visual Artists, Artists, Musicians

April 21-24, 2010 marks the 5th Anniversary Edition of |FAT| Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week.
We are now accepting entries in Fashion Design – Photography – Video – Performance – Music – Installation Art for the 2010 event.
Entry Deadline: Dec.22/09

To Apply and Participate Visit: www.getfat.ca

Contact: Vanja Vasic | 647.834.0061 | vanja@alternativefashionweek.com |