Tuesday night our fabulous foursome pulled into the ultimate parking spot directly in front of The Gooderham and Wort’s Fermenting Cellar, this years home of Toronto Alternative Fashion week. On a rainy Toronto night what could be a more perfect sign of good things to come!

We made an impressive entrance and were warmly greeted. Once sorted with the night’s itinerary, bios of all the designers and artists, we were off in all directions to suss out the scene. My first stop was the NOW Magazine Design Competition Finalists Collection. Elizabeth Pinter’s voluminous, bustled gown and totally wearable newsprint boots were charming and everyone agreed that Laurie Anne Tewata’s twilled newsprint boa was impressive.

Moving through the crowd, Laura McIntyre caught my eye sporting a wearable art piece “Burp”. A fanny pack bursting at the seams with a “bilious digestive system gone berserk”. This smorgasbord of “cheese inspired oblongs”, electric purple, green and blue “intestines”, purple growths and yellow and blue orbs was fashioned entirely by hand from found and recycled materials and calls to mind the “bulimic tendencies and garish fashion trends of the late 1980’s” with humour and irreverence.

Karina Bergmans and Jenny MacMaster were also making a statement with their Cake Purses: transparent custom designed bags, containing decadently decorated birthday cakes. The bags also sported pockets for extra long matches and rows of birthday candles. Later in the evening the two women transformed themselves into frothy pastry confections and entertained the crowd with a reading from Margaret Atwood’s Edible Woman and a rousing sing a long of “If I’d a Known you Were coming...(I’d a baked a cake).

As I worked my way around the FAT Gallery show of fashion inspired artwork several pieces stood out. Carol Xavier’s toy inspired silver jewellery, especially her multicultural finger puppet “rings” representing the nationalities of her family. Anna Ross’ photographs playing with the relationship between music and fashion. Her models “wear” garments constructed from the lyrics of popular songs. Braden Joseph Labonte’s painting Heart of a Lion was sexy and dirty. A rough looking fellow in blue jockey underpants confronts the viewer with a team logo inspired lion head roaring from his chest. The raunchy attitude of the subject is contrasted by the elegant textile of the backgound. I also noticed a curious theme: Labontes “conjoined Triplets” Ozzy Mrkic’s digital portrait and Bethany Ramella’s neo-classical punk models all sported clown noses; a cheeky poke at the self-importance of the fashion industry and art world’s attitudes?

My favourite music of the evening was provided by DJ Medicine Man. His selections created an otherworldly and mysterious atmosphere ideal for the night’s theme of Fantasy. Guys with Bangs also provided a mix of Funk, Electronic, Jazz and Fusion that on a night, with fewer distractions, would have definitely got me moving.

The crowd was a laid back mix of eclectic “Fashionistas and Anarchists”. Approachable and attitude free, we mixed and mingled, enjoyed a few glasses of wine and a fantastic runway show of “fashion that comes from the edge”.
<See show review.>

During a break in the show I had the opportunity to talk to Robin Angell, a featured designer. She was charming and told me a little bit about what inspired her designs and her impressions of Toronto Alternative Fashion week. When we stepped outside for a quick chat the air was fresh and the rain had stopped. It seemed as though the vitality of the FAT had transformed even the weather.

I returned to our seats, at the edge of the runway, to view more of the incredible works of wearable art. The work of Ana Grebec, Jessica Biffi, Mitsuko Makino and Jasper Garvia all left a lasting impression. Ruffles, colour, texture, volume and theatricality were the key words to describe their designs.

The team was full of breathless accolades for Vanja Vasic, the creative force behind FAT. What a success! We look forward to what the next two nights will provide.

- Kate

>> on to day 2