All posts filed under: Canadian Designers

Krane Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Hands down favourite of LG Fashion Week is Krane.  This show had it all, from the amazing Krane clothing and accessories to the killer runway presentation with great music.  It’s was the most enjoyable show of the week for me.  I remember a Krane show I covered for blogTO way back in 2007 where designer, Ken Chow, cleverly used a bodybag in the finale of his fashion show. That guy has always been impressing me with his work and presentation skills. As someone who loves military details, it’s pretty hard not to be crazy in love with Krane. Ken Chow continued on his exploration of the military theme with officer’s coats, aviator jackets, bombers and pea coats. He combined his signature waxed cotton with vintage military blankets in many of the jackets. Lambskin, wool, cotton and shearling rounded out the fabrics in the line. Bags came in different styles like duffle bags, carpenter bags, laptop bags, rucksacks and briefcases. They came in either suede or a washed leather. The lambskin jeans stood out the most …

Greta Constantine Fall Winter 2011 – 2012, Revolution

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At the Greta Constantine Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 fashion show we got a preview of the new video by C. Hudson Hwang. You might remember that he created the Erza Constantine spring 2011 preview video and the Greta and Ezra Constantine spring summer 2010 videos.  Well, the video is now complete and ready for public consumption shot, cut, motion designed and directed by C. Hudson Hwang models: Christina Kaszap [elmer olsen] Frances Coombe [elite] Andrea T [next] Rochelle Ten Holder [next] Dani Seitz [sutherland] Anna Shevchenko [push] Jeannine Smith [ford] Dajana Antic [elmer olsen] Julian G [elite] Nick Gonko [elite] Krystal Reeve [next] Tea Moir [sutherland] Bria Castello [elmer olsen] Shelby Furber [elmer olsen] Danielle W [elmer olsen] Jenica Vandermeer [ford] Kassandra Gray [elmer olsen] Sarah Barnes [elmer olsen] Renee Thompson [elite] Bayan Peterson [sutherland] Richelle Dobson [sutherland] Kristy Nykilchuk [elmer olsen] Caitlin Dudar [elite] Joanna Lapiesza [elite] Music: Children of the Revolution (written by Marc Bolan) by Neon Indian [Lefse Records / Static Tongues] Greta Constantine is designed by Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen …

Amanda Lew Kee Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Amanda Lew Kee’s fall winter 2011 – 2012 collection started out so strong. The first third of the collection was very promising. Unfortunately, the middle part of the collection was a little lost and the last third of the show was a risky gamble with colour that didn’t pay off.   There was a lot of good elements going on the in the collection but they got lost among the unfocused elements. In my perfect world Amanda would have continued to explore the silhouettes she opened with in fabrics that weren’t metallic.  The rule about taking off a piece of jewellery before you leave the house applies to everything in life.  In this case, less would have been more. The collection was in desperate need of an edit.  The leggings and jersey tank dress are too American Apparel to be on the runway.  Those looks weren’t show material for me but the things you show to buyers in a showroom.  The flower embellishment left me puzzled.  Was it a deliberate design feature or some last-minute …

LOVAS Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Wesley Badanjak always berates me for missing his latest LOVAS collection at LG Fashion Week. I usually can’t attend because he shows at 5pm slot which conflicts with the 5 in mt 9 to 5. LOVAS fall winter 2011 – 2012 was scheduled at 6pm so I promised I would attend and finally see a show for the first time since FAT in 2009. LOVAS fall winter 2011 – 2012 is inspired by the immigration story of his mother, Manda and her twin, Marija. He’s blended traditional Slavic prints and stylistic elements using wool, stretch cotton, cashmere, taffeta, silk organza, tweed, silk volie, raccoon, coyote, velvet, lace and bengaline. The colour palette was dark with navy, charcoal, silver, bordeaux and crimson. LOVAS isn’t my style in general. Wesley knows that my nemesis is taffeta. The collection is wearable and accessible for many women. As an office dweller, there are suites and separates that incorporates elements of a fashion forward silhouette. Ultimately it was your standard fashion show. It didn’t have me salivating over every look. …

Juma Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Prints haven’t scared off the Juma siblings and I’m so happy about that. I ranted and raved about the Spring Summer 2011 collection. Alia and Jamil decided to do a print heavy spring collection which was something new for them. Normally, Juma is associated with neutral colours and a lot of black. It was a great pairing of silhouettes and prints. The Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection continues to hunt east for its inspiration. Tibet, Thailand & Shezhen’s local tapestry work and wildlife shaped the vibrant colour and intricate designs the duo developed for the 2011 fall winter collection. To modernize the prints, they distorted and layered them as well as added gradients of colour including midnight blue, burnt corals, olive, tangerine, nude and black. The multicoloured knits were inspired by the thick, colourful wool blankets that mountain people wrap around themselves during the winter months in Tibet.(source: press release) It’s safe to say I loved this collection from Juma as much as spring summer. I want it all. I didn’t get any photos …

ATTITUDE Jay Manuel Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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The ATTITUDE Jay Manuel Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 started out with a video.  I’m not a fan of the video before the fashion show.  Rarely do they contribute something meaningful to the collection.  I’ve seen a couple of good ones by Evan Biddell and I enjoyed Holt Renfrew’s for the Spring Summer 2011 season.  What a difference a celebrity can make.  The video didn’t sit well with me as it basically was like “hey look at how much work Jay Manuel has put into this line.  He did it all by himself.”   In previous seasons, ATTITUDE would acknowledge the creative team who developed the line.  I really liked that Sears acknowledged it was a team effort. Now, Sears wants us to believe Jay Manual is the sole creative force behind ATTITUDE. He even came out alone at the end of the show. In general, ATTITUDE Jay Manuel Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection was what I expected.  Retail friendly trends: the 70s, military, leather and fur (both faux).  Jay was also drinking the Proenza …

IZMA Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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Izzy Camilleri and Adrian Mainella are back again for IZMA‘s 70s glam rock influenced Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection. I got more of an old Hollywood feel from the styling, hair and makeup during the show. However, the colours and jumpsuits are all 70s though. Sustainable furs used this fall winter 2011 – 2012 season included coyote, lapin (rabbit) and fox. Is it bad that I liked the non fur portion of the IZMA show more than the fur? I’m beginning to realize that I’m a traditionalist when it comes to fur. Grandma fur resonates with me than more than this modern stuff.  I guess the Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 IZMA collection had just enough grandma to win me over.  The Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 coats with the gold and silver detailing were marvels of construction but I they didn’t work for me aesthetically. The smaller the fur piece the more I liked it. The capelets, boleros and stoles I really liked with my favourite being the fox and organza bolero in …

Rita Liefhebber Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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I have been kinda lukewarm to Rita Liefhebber‘s last two collections. Nothing has touched the enjoyment I received from the Spring Summer 2009 collection. It had it all, a super cool presentation space in the back of The Black Hoof and lots of great food. Rita Liefhebber Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 presentation at Jonathan+Olivia almost brought me back to that Spring Summer 2009 high. It was all about the tops and jackets for me anything else barely registered. I just loved the hand crafted splatter and tie-dye which add an artistic touch to minimalist clothing. The usual winter fabrics like wool, cashmere and mohair were used. Rita also jumped on the velvet trend that everyone in Toronto is doing.  The tie-dye velvet shirts are just beautiful. Rita’s inspiration was: “globular clusters, Gamma-ray bubbles, spheroid halo, local fluff”. The jackets were also standout pieces for me.  The collection has a very “model off duty” look to it. You can pair pieces with jeans and boots or dress it up with a jacket and heels. I …

Greta and Ezra Constantine Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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I had a little peek of a few items from the collection at various times prior to the show. First visit was jersey dresses and the second visit was the long melton wool kimono inspired jackets. There was talk of velvet in the studio as I swung the jacket over my shoulders. Greta in velvet, I thought, that could be interesting. Little did I know that velvet would be everywhere this Toronto Fashion Week. Kirk and I talked about the inspiration which included the Orient and a link between past and future.       The show was back at Audi. I like the venue but it’s shitty to take pictures in. Of course, torontolife.com captured the entire Greta Constantine Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection. They have a great photographer that got way better shots than me. The collection surprised me in a good way. It wasn’t just jersey dresses; Kirk and Stephen were dressing for a Canadian winter. Greta Constantine’s Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection is romantic and sultry. The colours were …

The Heart Truth Fashion Show Fall Winter 2011 – 2012

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I made a last minute executive decision to skip The Heart Truth Fashion Show. I went to see Rita Liefhebber’s Fall Winter 2011 – 2012 collection at Jonathan+Olivia instead. I was more intrigued with what Rita would be producing for fall. Their PR team followed up with a link to the livestream feed if you are interested in checking out the action. Canadian celebrities strutted the catwalk tonight modeling one-of-a kind red dresses by top Canadian fashion designers to raise awareness about women’s risk for heart disease and stroke at the fourth annual Heart Truth Fashion Show. “We’re reaching Canadian women with this lifesaving message: it’s time to take charge of your heart health”, says Bobbe Wood, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. “Make healthy lifestyle choices, monitor your cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and advocate for the care you need from your doctor. And to Canadian men, we say support the women you love to protect their heart health.” Andrea Martin wearing Farley Chatto, Arlene Dickinson wearing Izzy Camilleri, Bal Arneson …