Ryerson Fashion: Top Graduates

by Daniel Wilson

Photos from the Deandra Buckley show

Student fashion shows are awesome: there's usually a ton of creativity and eye candy to take in! But one of the best is Ryerson School of Fashion's Mass Exodus - it's a fantastic, high-budget presentation of the Ryerson Fashion Program’s graduating student work. The production of the show is stellar, with the theatre, tech and fashion students all working together. The venue, the theatre at Ryerson, is not the best for a runway show, but fortunately I sat in the front row and caught some spectacular student work.

Overall, its great to see the transition from student into professional in the presentation and to get a peek at what tomorrow’s tastemakers will have in store for us.

Highlights:
There were so many great mini-collections and although most of them were presentable and professional (due of course to strict editing standards), these were some of my favorites:


Chassandre Lavictoire
TorontoStreetFashion can admit to being a little bias towards our friend Chassandre, but even still, her MassEx collection met and exceeded our expectations! She deftly handled some strong Victorian influences while incorporated styling and some unique twists to make the pieces thoroughly modern, (the bowler hats were a great touch, very Comme des Garcon). The exquisite attention to detail made the quality of the pieces obvious even from afar.


Walk Tall
This totally blew my mind. Amazing Edward Gorey dresses as imagined by Tim Burton on acid. One model came out in stilts which was terrific and set the show apart.

Amanda Rose
Virginia Woolf goes a little glam in this collection with a fantastic long tiered dress paired with a cropped leather jacket and a great belted chunky cardigan. Perfect for the modern poet.

Also loved:
Paper Plane
Amazing skirt and hoodie in this simple, elegant, Japanese inspired collection. Love the barefoot models!

Fantasy Fashion @ Gallery 1313

Photos from last month's Fantasy Fashion Show #11 @ Gallery 1313
Photographer Matthew Trotter

JUZD Bamboo Tees

Photos by Christina Pal


Toronto-based streetwear JUZD Clothing (joost) claims to be 'The Planet's First Bamboo Designer Label' - consisting of nature/Asian-inspired graphic tees for men and women.

On February 6th 2008, JUDZ previewed its latest styles with a runway show, dj/club set and high-energy breakdance performances from the ABS Crew and Poizunus.

Why we love BAMBOO
1. Antibacterial- keeps you feeling and smelling fresh.
2. Highly sweat absorbency - keeps you dry.
3. Powerfully insulating- keeps you cooler in summer and warmer in the winter.
4. One of the softest fabrics on the planet- you'll love the way it feels.
5. Naturally UV protecting- protect yourself from skin cancer.
6. Hypoallergenic- natural bamboo does not cause allergic reactions.
7. One of the most eco-friendly fabrics on the planet.

Check out the site www.juzdwear.com for photos and designer blog.

Eco-Couture Fashion Show

Toronto fashion media, bloggers and eco-fashion supporters nestled among a green grass runway at the Evergreen Brickworks for the 1st Eco-Couture Fashion Show. Some of Toronto's top designers including Annie Thompson, Ula Zukowska and Thien Le made a statement with bamboo, soy and hemp creations, all sustainable fabrics, for the event.

Robin Kay, FDCC president gave an impassioned speech and encouraged the crowd to pull together to embrace this new 'eco-psychology'. Although Flare editor Lisa Tant graced the crowd with her presence, we couldn't get her 'professional' opinion, let alone a reaction to Canada's eco-couture - I suppose we should be satisfied with her "Green is the New Black" editor's letter in this October issue of Flare.

Overall, the night was a success in raising funds for Environmental Defense, an organization that educates the public about environmental issues.

http://www.fashiontakesaction.com/
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Bend Me, Shape Me

Saturday at Dundas Square the Fashion & Design Festival gave the audience something different in the form of fashion. A live draping or moulding demonstration. Draping is a classic designer art form involving lots of pins and patience. Three Toronto Fashion Incubator [TFI] designers worked under pressure and threat of rain to pin fabric onto judy dress forms. Sharing with the masses some behind the scenes skills in the art of fashion design.

A big round of applause to Danielle Meder, Katya Revenko and Engelbert Gayagoy!

Highlight Toronto Designers Show

The Fashion & Design Festival producers came all the way from Montreal to celebrate design in the heart of Toronto. The street audience watching the show Thursday night in Dundas Square got a glimpse of some already well established Canadian fashion brand names.

Designs featured from collections by: Arthur Mendonca, David Dixon, Farley Chatto, House of Spy, Individual By I Clothingco, Izzy Camilleri, Joeffer Caoc, Juma, Kaadiki, Lucian Matis, Pat McDonagh, Pink Tartan, Rashmi Varma, Sunny Choi, Tevrow + Chase and Thieves.

We hope that one day they are all household names!

I Love Kyoto - Ethical Fashion Show

I Love Kyoto was one of the Fashion & Design Festival fashion shows presented Thursday night in Dundas Square. Reflecting the worldwide trend towards saving the environment, this show had the spotlight on ethical labels such as: Preloved, 88 Queen Street, Thieves, Revolve Clothing and Second and Paper - just to name drop a few.

Music provided by Team Canada, featuring DJ Grandtheft.

The hair and makeup was spectacular!

Fashion & Design Festival Hits Toronto Hearts

The Fashion & Design Festival hit Yonge and Dundas over the weekend, and got into the heart of Torontonians.

Starting on Thursday night and ending Saturday, the three day fest in Dundas Square featured over 25 fashion shows and showcased more than 130 fashion names and brands. The city can thank Montreal based events production company, Sensation Mode, for the free fashion fix.

Dundas Square was packed full of fashion lovers of all ages and walks of life for the opening night. It was fantastic to be outdoors with funky music blaring and fashion models silhouetted against the night sky. I made it out for two shows - I Love Kyoto and Highlight Toronto.

Here are some snaps of those who made it for the party.

69 Vintage Forever Collection 07 @ Ultra Supper Club Aug 21

Ultra is a beautiful and elegant venue; an ideal spot to host a fashion event in the downtown core. I arrive at 11 pm to find Vanja Vasic, Alternative Fashion Week [FAT] Director and her fashion designer pal Wesley chatting downstairs. Next I bump into some of the Helder clan – giggling and cavorting upstairs. I see Jeff Rustia, host of Club Fashion TV and introduced him to who I think are some key fashion personalities in the city to be interviewed for his show. A select group of fashion celebs take turns being interviewed about their love of vintage, while waiting for the 69 Vintage midnight fashion show to begin.

The show is still along way from starting – fashion shows are always late, especially 69 Vintage shows. This is not a bad thing, as it gives me time to have a drink and take street fashion photos. Hey, I do have a job to do. I am happy to be interviewed about my love of fashion for Jeff’s show. I have been a champion of vintage clothing for a long time. I know Jeff is dying for a few good sounds bites, so I rehearse in my head what I will say once I get on camera. “Vintage is not old. It is the new, new. It is couture for clubbers.”

I urge my friend and local jewelry designer Susie Love to have a go on camera. She is such a sweetheart and in return gives me a ring she has made. It is a large clear cube of plastic now sitting on my index finger. Susie is so sweet she attracts the attention of many a man’s eye at Ultra. One in particular is chatting her up as I try to urge her downstairs for the fashion show, which is imminent. I try to distract him by showing him Susie’s ring – my precious plastic cube. He asks me, “Don’t you prefer diamonds?” I tell him that I find diamonds morally repugnant and that I don’t own any real diamonds. He then asks me, “Don’t you want to get married?”

I don’t like his manner; he is cocky and arrogant. It is now clear to me why many of my fashion blogger friends declined to attend the show; Ultra is not their sort of place. Some of the clientele here are real jerks apparently.

Downstairs a crowd has gathered around the catwalk. While waiting, a strange man grabs at my friend’s breast. She tells him to go away. Finally the show starts and delivers a retrospective of club fashions from the late 60’s to the early 90’s. The live acoustic music – Talking Heads, Madonna, The Kinks and Billy Idol covers create a nostalgic vibe. The models are having a blast dancing and jumping on the catwalk in wild vintage styles. However, there are some people who are not so pleased with the show’s styling. I know some fashion designers who are peeved that the show was being billed as ‘vintage designs’. I speak to one Toronto fashion designer and he tells me, “A designer is conceptual and creating from scratch. A stylist just puts pieces of already made clothing together.” Clearly some feathers got ruffled and aesthetics offended.

At this point in the evening all that is lacking is Elton John walking into the club with tiaras and anti-tantrum meds.

Photos by Sonja Andic

Kensington Catwalk Challenge

Kensington Market's Pedestrian Sundays held the Kensington Catwalk Challenge today. Second-hand stylists created unique and characteristically Kensington Market looks with clothing and accessories from local market shops. Once the looks were created, a Zoolander catwalk was held on the street. Local merchants donate prizes for creativity, most fashionable sun block, best use of layers and other stuff. Take a look at the results above!

pics Sonja Andic