All posts filed under: Canadian Designers

Line Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

Line continued their ready to wear expansion for the fall winter 2011 – 2012 season. The season adds coats and pants to their traditional line up of knits. The collection was very 70s in terms of palette and style. Typical colours like orange, blue, mustard, beige and burgundy complimented neutrals of black and grey. The knit textures included cable, crochet, patchwork and loops. Line was one of the many designers that used fur this season but it was used sparingly. I always talk about my granny nature with fur and Line stuck to the traditional with raccoon stoles, collars and trim. The rabbit fur biker jacket was an interesting modern take on fur but I felt the raccoon vest was overwhelming on the body. My granny fur sensibilities didn’t prevent me for loving the rabbit fur knit which was used in some beautiful open wraps. The floor length cable knit dress sounded great on paper but didn’t deliver for me in person. It seemed a bit too restricting, perhaps a side slit would help. The …

DUY x Aldo Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

  Aldo Shoes is on a collaboration roll too.  During Rouge Fashion Week they partnered with Greta Constantine on some limited edition footwear.  DUY paired up with Aldo during LG Fashion Week for a limited edition collection of accessories. This collection of elegant and slightly rebel shoes and accessories pays homage to his Muse, her sophistication and distinctive sense of aesthetics. Faithful to her vision, the various pieces of this collection integrate the elements that made Daphne Guinness famous: leather, textured materials (python, lace), prints (leopard) and fur (pony), caramel hues and dark shades (grey and black). The FW 2011 ALDO collection of shoes and accessories for DUY is an stunning blend of radical chic, flexibility and accessibility. A collection which truly combines modernism, sophistication and elegance.    

DANIER x George Antonopoulos Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

The DANIER x Greta Constantine Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collaboration was just announced but few weeks ago there was another announcement from the DANIER team. DANIER continues their Canadian designer collaborations by announcing a partnership with renowned fashion stylist and director, George Antonopoulos. F/W 2011/12 will see a debut design capsule collection, OBJECT, sold at select DANIER retail locations across Canada. Object will be comprised of sophisticated separates for women, bringing a singular aesthetic to the Canadian consumer. “My philosophy behind OBJECT was creating modern classics in leather that are effortlessly integrated into anyone’s wardrobe. Attainable and affordable, the designs are investment pieces translated in leather to create a new language of dressing,” says Antonopoulos. Antonopoulos has earned an impressive reputation within the Canadian fashion landscape through his work as both a creative director and stylist with publications such as Flare, Fashion and Cheek Magazine. DANIER is excited to have the opportunity to bring this Canadian talent’s forward thinking vision into the retail arena; OBJECT will debut to the Canadian media this spring. DANIER …

Denis Gagnon x Aldo Spring Summer 2011 Shoes

It’s been collaboration news central the last few days. Denis Gagnon is selling limited quantities of his Spring Summer 2011 shoes at his new Montreal store. In conjunction with the official opening of the Denis Gagnon boutique, scheduled in May 2011, Denis Gagnon and ALDO will be releasing the samples from their Spring/Summer 2011 shoe collaboration to be sold exclusively at the designer’s first stand-alone boutique in Old Montreal. In limited quantities, the samples will be sold for $150.00 per pair. 15% of the total sales will be donated to the Farha Foundation in Montreal. Lucky Montrealers! images: courtesy of Aldo

FABRIC BIKE Trailer

Trailer for ‘FABRIC BIKE’: The Deadly Nightshades come together to create a bicycle that combines their love of fashion, art and cycling. The girls document this 3 month project step by step, as they make their ultimate bike out of unconventional materials – posing the question, what can’t you make a bike out of? Stay tuned for info on the premiere of FABRIC BIKE summer 2011!

i want: MARLU Necklaces

I love these necklaces by MARLU jewellery. MARLU is a Toronto based line and was created by sisters, Monika Sammut and Marta LeClair. 16″ necklace of green jade beads accented with a double strand of rhodium plated curb chain, two layers of blades and a large rhodium clasp 18″ double strand necklace of onyx beads accented with rhodium plated blades and a large rhodium clasp 18″ double strand necklace of white polished shell beads accented with rhodium plated blades and a large rhodium clasp images: courtesy of MARLU jewellery

Anu Raina Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

Textile artist, Anu Raina debuted her hand crafted clothing line at LGFW.  Anu Raina Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 features hand dyed and printed pieces. She used details such as excerpts from her poetry, painting and embroidery. “This collection is an extension of my Autobiographical artwork titled Chapter 2, Page 1, that is going to be exhibited at Pearson Airport from April16 to October 3, 2011,” says Anu Raina “”My work has evolved as a juxtaposition of my urban and the traditional self that I left behind. In this collection, I have tried to trace my own transition. I have used motifs like haystack, paisley, Talim – a weaving code of Pashmina shawls – marks I made with toothpaste on the mirror, and the things I grew up with around me. I have tied it all with a poem in French I once wrote about my mother, which would roughly translate in English as: When I was little I woke up very late. I would wait for my mother to come and wake me up. …

Klaxon Howl Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

Samuel L. Jackson was the only massive celebrity to attend LGFW. Random is the only word to describe his attendance at Klaxon Howl. One of my favourite moments of LGFW was tweeting about Mr. Jackson’s arrival. Ha Ha. Some people thought it was an April Fool’s joke. I did miss out on getting a photo with him but I did see him in the flesh. I guess when The Hudson’s Bay is backing your line things like this can happen. Klaxon Howl fall winter 2011 – 2012 was a very commercial menswear collection. The military influenced collection used a white, grey, blue, brown and black colour scheme. There was a lone coral coloured button up, which seemed out-of-place in the collection. The collection featured the basics: coats, denim, button up shirts, vests and pants. There was a lot of buzz about the handbag collaboration between Klaxon Howl and The Hudson’s Bay. The fashion show was half runway and half presentation. I think the main runway room is too large to pull this format off successfully. …

Comrags Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

Comrags is one of the long-standing Canadian brands that are showing no signs of slowing down. They’ve been around for 28 years and they have a very established customer base and brand.  The Fall Winter 2007 – 2008 collection was my first Comrags fashion show. They show ever few seasons at LG Fashion Week.  I wondered what the Comrags print would be this season.  The endless possibilities they could come up with for for Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 excited me. The collection was typical Comrags: lots of easy to wear dresses, full skirts, couple of pant options and belted jackets. It’s a very retail friendly collection, stylish and uncomplicated. The models didn’t wear heels as per the usual Comrags MO. I loved the floral prints. The wide leg pant looked great with the Trotsky jacket. I want the complete runway look (with platforms of course). Comrags Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 linesheet stated this jacket was made a material called silver wool.  The fabric has an unusual finish.  Other fabrics used in the collection …