The Globe and Mail‘s Tiyana Grulovic and Robert Weir
Designer Jules Power and Suzanne Boyd
Amy Burstyn-Fritz of Knot Pr
Glenna Weddle and Faith Orfus of Yorkville’s hip RAC Boutique – No wonder these gals look so good!
I was one entertained recently at MARO Supper Club for the Africa Comes Alive fundraiser, where Canadian jewellery designers teamed up with Cascata Blu swimwear to raise awareness and funds for the A Hi Kulene Area Development Program (ADP) and World Vision Canada.
Photo Credit: Korby Banner
Jewellery designers donated and created African-inspired pieces that were auctioned off at the event – includi C’est Joli, Colette Harmon, J. Rox, Jewellery by Karen, Monikque Jewellery, Melissa Clemente Designs, Rita Tesolin, Sylvia Brade, and Tracy Borlase. Each individual piece will be up for grabs during the live auction directly following the fashion show with all proceeds raised to be donated to the cause.
ABOUT CASCATA BLU
Cascata Blu is sexy beachwear designed by Torontonian, Cheryl Gushue. Gushue designed a junior line right out of college working with stretch fabrics creating sexy clubwear that was sold at a trendy Toronto retailer Urban Behavior. Her work has been featured on Fashion Television, in TChad Magazine and received national media exposure as a finalist in the esteemed TFI New Labels competition. With the investment of her new partner Joan Kelley, Cheryl is now full force ahead creating Cascata Blu.
Imagine sporting a turban with matching muff this winter?! Well I won’t be buying the new Headmistress warm, winter (wow, so pricey) ‘Durocher’ accessories, but I do like them! All from Headmistress:
Gloves $140 | Turban $140 | Muff $260
Chilly mornings like these deserve warm, succulent and luxurious Canadiana fashion at its finest – like Philip Sparks‘ fall 2011 collection of maple leaf silk prints, flannel-lined jeans and signature plaid for both men and women.
Inspired by Canadian winters and outdoor activities like skating and tobogganing, Sparks’ tailored pieces are made of all that is traditionally suited for the season: tweed dresses, hand knit sweaters, wool suits, mountain sheep shearling on coats and scarves and warm heavy silks.
Click HERE to shop online or visit the Toronto showroom Thursdays through Saturdays between noon and 6 pm at The Burroughes Building (639 Queen St. West, suite 5005, Toronto, Canada).
photos via >>
So fitting to be unveiled around Toronto’s official Fashion Week – NOW Magazine’s (Andrew Sardone’s) annual Toronto Fashion Heroes list – in this week’s Fall Fashion Issue, complete with glossy pull-out of NOW Magazine:
“Here’s who’s changing style in the city and beyond.”
“It is a lifestyle which adheres just as much to Parisian cafés as it does to old English pubs, 1920s New York speakeasies, wood cabins by the lake, old upright pianos, poetry, literature, and 1970s rock and roll music.”
HBC’s B-Insider.com blog by Christopher Sherman with editorial director Kate Corbett and executive editor Colleen Henman.
George Antonopoulos & Danier
“Calling Danier’s collaboration with George Antonopoulos a pleasant surprise is a serious understatement. Slap-across-the-face revelation is a more apt description for Object, the collection of coats, dresses and separates the seasoned stylist conceptualized for the leather retailer.”
Mercy
“Noted for their innovative use of fabrics and sentimental silhouettes, the design studio MERCY was founded in 1994. Jennifer Halchuk and Richard Lyle enjoy a symbiotic design partnership, always inspired by colour and textiles. ”
The Genteel
Fashion blog by Mona Chammas.
photo via http://www.blogto.com
Pretty Beauty & Books
“One of our favourite recent shop discoveries is Mirvish Village’s Pretty Beauty & Books (587 Markham), and not just because the boutique makeup space has a playful, whimsical look that’s a clever counterpoint to the industrial antique retail aesthetic so popular around town. Andrea Victory’s store is trailblazing a natural beauty movement by proving that you don’t need to go granola when you go green with your cosmetic choices.”
You may have never heard of these brands, but the following Toronto fashion designers have been drawing, drafting, cutting and sewing for years – selling their creations to loyal customers season after season.
They might not get national brand exposure or may not be getting rich, but all work full-time as designers and show no sign of slowing down.
Toronto Fashion Designers: All will be at the upcoming Clothing Show and Sale, September 23-25, 2011 at the Queen Elizabeth Building, Exhibition Place
Founded in T.O. about five years ago, designers Erin Keatch and Tara Kelly work inspired by vintage archives, nature and textures. The line began as one-of-a-kind jackets and skirts that were bought up by Toronto followers. Since, its evolved to mostly jackets, dresses and skirts that are made in limited numbers.
Since winning the ’98 Toronto Fashion Designer of the Year Award, knitwear designer Olena Zylak hasn’t looked back. Her fine knit scarves and shawls are sold in a good number of stores throughout Canada – and have been seen on celebs like Prince and Olivia Newton John.
Designer and Ryerson grad Jen Fukushima has been re-constructing knits and manipulating bits of reclaimed fabrics into sweaters, accessories and screen-print dresses for 10 years! She has worked hard enough to have her line carried in many boutiques across the country and still manages to find time for local shopping shows. Paper People Clothing is one-of-a-kind, hand-made pieces that are all a bit different in tone and style.
Just for Us Originals: The Wearable Art Show
Original works of wearable art by forty Canadian artists
September 23 from 11am-8pm with fashion shows at 1:30pm & 6:30pm.
September 24 from 10am-4pm with fashion shows at 11:30am & 1:30pm.
Mississauga Living Arts Centre, 4141 Living Arts Drive
ADMISSION IS FREE
Just for Us Originals: The Wearable Art Show is a show and sale of original art-wear: unique, handcrafted pieces by 40 Canadian artisans.
Artsy jackets, intricate knitwear, collaged creations, colourful felted work, exquisite jewellery, striking leather pieces and unique accessories (handbags, scarves, hats, belts) are all on display – and on the runway at four fabulous fashion shows.
Artists participating in the fashion show include:
Artwear designer Bonnie Glass, the founder of Just for Us Originals, creates a combination of colour, line and texture in her one-of-a-kind coats, jackets and toppers.
Carolyn Barnett’s knitwear has been seen across the world as well as at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and the Canadian Winter Olympics.
Designer Tomoko Kitai, inspired by the fashion instincts of her native Japan, creates fashion-forward women’s wear with a definitive Japanese flair under the label MOMO.
Mother-daughter duo Lous and Tessa Oort, known as Lousje & Bean, create innovative and youthful pieces inspired by the European style and sensibility of Lous’ native Holland.
Silk painter Ann Suzuki works with the ancient technique of batik, using wax, dyes and Indian, Chinese and Japanese silks.
Other artists:
Jeweller Naomi Assenheim’s creations are inspired by her training with renowned Inuit artist Matthew Nuqingaq as well as an apprenticeship with one of the top silversmiths in San Cristobal, Mexico.
Award-winning milliner David Dunkley has studied with the former royal milliner to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. His hats have been worn by members of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s royal entourage, and were worn by Canadian television reporters from all major networks at the 2011 royal wedding.
Jeweller Karen Hunter works with semiprecious stones and Niobium, a very rare pure metal that is naturally hypoallergenic and, when anodized, produces a rainbow of colours.
Handbag designer Joanne Jones creates hand-made handbags that repurpose old clothing and special fabrics.
Textile artist Marsha McIsaac moulds, manipulates and embellishes fabric scraps and unwanted garments into salvage-chic accessories.
Jeweller Alicia Niles creates colourful and whimsical hand-crafted glass bead and silver pieces.
Designers Marie Payne and Josette Luyckx, known as Marie Josette, create one-of-a-kind wearable art jackets from hand-dyed and hand-woven fabrics.
Felter Lorena Santin-Andrade‘s modern, chic and distinctive accessory and accent pieces are made using traditional felting methods, with a combination of rescued lux fabrics and wool and silk fibre.
For a full list of artists, visit www.justforusoriginals.com.
This is cool – had to post.
It’s Nicki Minaj in her custom banana print leggings and top by T.O. based designer team Juma. The outfit was designed for her recent tour but this photo is of her surprise visit at L’il Wayne’s concert in New Jersey.
