All posts filed under: Canadian Designers

LGFW SS11: Holt Renfrew Presents Spring Summer 2011

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So it’s LG Fashion Week once again. Toronto now has its own kick at the Spring Summer 2011 collections. The venue has changed to Heritage Court at Exhibition Place. It’s a lot roomier and there are lots of bathrooms. Getting into the runway room is alway a chore and that hasn’t changed. I love the exposed brick but I wish it was on both sides of the building. The non brick side could have used some extended curtains but I’m getting a little nitpicky here. Overall, decent except for the bad sun glare at the end of the night. Monday night saw Holt Renfrew bring its traditional media cocktail party to the runway. We saw some of the best of Canadian fashion in one runway show. Denis Gagnon, Jeremy Laing, Lida Baday, Line RUNWAY, Mikhael Kale, Pink Tartan, Smythe, Wayne Clark and Wings + Horns all presented several looks from their spring summer 2011 collections. This show was also a sneak peek at the upcoming Pink Tartan and Line Knitwear shows. The runway show didn’t have …

Complexgeometries Spring Summer 2011

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My fashion favourite Complexgeometries was in New York showing off the Spring Summer 2011 collection. I’m still very excited about this and I’m glad Clayton is moving on up as they say. The show got a lot of pre and post press from sites like Nymag.com, WWD and Fashionologie. Yay Clayton! Diane, A Shaded View on Fashion has some more photos of the collection. There are men’s looks that I didn’t include here as I focused on the women’s looks I liked.  Yup, I’m planning my Spring Summer 2011 Complexgeometries purchase. Jason Last was around with his trusty camera to grab a bit of video of the presentation. images: zimbio.com, nymag.com

Calla Spring Summer 2011

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Toronto native and Paris resident Calla Haynes held a presentation for her Spring Summer 2011 collection under her namesake label Calla. She created Kaleidoscope prints for Jeremy Laing’s fall 2008 – 2009 collection (video). For spring summer 2011 she produced a video invitation instead of a traditional one. Calla is a print genius. Spring summer 2011 is really beautiful.  I like the geometric aspect to some prints and the others that are more liquid. Barb at Phreshly Squeezed checked out the CALLA Spring-Summer 2011 presentation in Paris. Vogue Italy also has some other photos. Calla is found in Canada at: The Room The Hudson’s Bay 176 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario Reborn 231 rue Saint Paul Ouest Montreal, Quebec

Jeremy Laing Spring Summer 2011

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I watched the Jeremy Laing Spring Summer 2011 fashion show as it happened at work. I didn’t have any sound but it really didn’t matter.  The effect was the same, I wanted everything. This season Jeremy teamed up with Jaime Sin, who created the jewellery and soundtrack for the show. The pictures do a really crap job of relaying how good this collection is. I can’t wait for my showroom visit so that I can play dress up in Spring 2011 and document it. So, I’ve included the full Jeremy Laing Spring Summer 2011 fashion show images: elle.com

Danier Design Challenge 2011

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Danier Design Challenge DANIER, Canada’s premier leather retailer, is teaming up with Ryerson School of Fashion to reach out to young fashion influencers in the second year of this exciting design initiative. The DANIER Design Challenge will give 3rd year design students the opportunity to showcase their fashion chops by creating an original women’s leather garment design. That’s where YOU come in. The Canadian public along with a panel of expert judges will choose the winners. Last year, John Hillifer was the winning designer – his jacket is in select Danier stores NOW! YOU will get to vote on danier.com from October 5th to December 22th . Your votes along with those of an industry expert panel — including Robert Ott, Chair of Ryerson School of Fashion, Olga Koel, DANIER’s Chief Merchandising Officer, fashion icon and television host Jeanne Beker, fashion stylist George Antonopoulos and Tiyana Grulovic, a fashion style reporter and stylist — will decide who becomes the winner of the DANIER Design Challenge. Three winners will be awarded a cash prize and the …

Nella Bella Handbags Fall Winter 2010 – 2011

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I visited Tarek at his studio to see the fall 2010 collection from Nella Bella. The dark palette has a few spots of colour with gold, plum, red and blue. Textures fabricated this season include suede and paper. Tarek took me through Spring 2011 (more on that in later posts) and the current Fall 2010 collections.  He also generously loaded me up with handbags and send me on my merry way. This meeting was during TIFF so I was getting a little to used to this scenario. I love the Seattle style (pictured at top) bag. The four zippers are used to collapse and enlarge the handbag. It’s nice to have the option of three sizes. His studio building is gorgeous and I had to do and outdoor shoot. Nella Bella is available in Toronto at: Body Blue Denim Lab 724 Queen St. W. Capezio Casual Affairs 2873 Bloor St. W. Envelop 311 Danforth Ave. Frock 97 Roncesvalles Ave. Please see nella-bella.com for retailers across the country.