Canada’s top fashion designers and the world’s fashion lovers descended upon Toronto for Toronto Fashion Week’s S/S 2018 shows. While Toronto Fashion Week also includes industry panel discussions, pop-ups shops and more, we want to share the highlights of the week’s runways shows. These three shows not only displayed the work of talented fashion designers, but they also made strong political statements.
Lesley Hampton
For Spring Summer 2018, presenting her latest body positive collection Sticks and Stones. The Spring Summer 2018 collection, entitled Sticks and Stones , is inspired by the development and healing of a contusion. Beginning with blush pinks and innocent whites and creams to a dramatic change of dark purples, blues, and greys, the collection is reminiscent of the colours of the healing that can occur after being taken advantage of or underappreciated .
Canadian favorite, or should we say favourite, Lesley Hampton’s offerings for Toronto Fashion Week were a celebration of diversity in fashion. A high point of the show came when a model walked the runway in an embellished black look that hit at the top of her thighs. What made this look especially noteworthy was the model wearing the look. Adrianne Haslet is a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing, and she walked the runway on her prosthetic leg.
We also applaud First Nations’ designer Lesley Hampton’s diverse choice of models for her show. Women from size 2 to 24 of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds were walking the runway. We would love to see even more of this inclusiveness in the fashion world!
Zoran Dobric
Using fashion as an artistic expression, the designer creates original textiles by implementing digital print, laser cutting, block printing, embroidery, shibori pleating and other artisanal techniques.
Toronto-based designer Zoran Dobric celebrated diversity in a different way. His collection, titled United Nations, lauded multiculturalism in both the inspiration of his garments and also in his choice of models. He dedicated the collection to the many immigrant women in his life and hopes that the show will “contribute this visual journey to fight xenophobia and celebrate openness to other cultures.”
Canada 150 Fashion
Toronto Women’s Fashion Week is pleased to present CANADA 150 FASHION SHOW TRIBUTE to celebrate Canada’s 150 anniversary with a beautiful runway presentation that journeys through 150 years of fashion in Canada. It promises to be a spectacular and epic event featuring Canada’s most iconic designers, with diverse models going on the runway to promote fashion, have fun and raise money for charity.
After honoring world cultures in other shows, this show was all about Canadian fashion. The Canada 150 Fashion show featured designs that draw on Canadian heritage. Canadian designers like Wallo, Peggy Sue, Korhani, Curtis Oland, and Iris Alibali contributed to the show. Models walked the runway in cozy furs, tribal prints, and also garments covered in red maple leaves! This show was a charity event benefiting Veterans of Canada.
So, tell us, what are your thoughts on this strengthening trend of fashion designers using their runway shows to make political statements? Do you appreciate the viewpoints of these shows or would you rather fashion stay divorced from the realm of politics? We would also love to hear your opinions! Can’t get enough fashion? Try our highlights from Milan fashion week as well.
