Newcomers and fashion veterans alike rejoice just as the city transitions into fall
By Lauren Watson
The weekend that Toronto creatives and the city’s most fashionable have come to anticipate was another breathtaking spectacle. Every fashion lover across the GTA flocked to Toronto’s east end to catch a glimpse of the 2024 Fall/Winter trends.
On Saturday, Nov. 16, the third day of Fashion Art Toronto commenced at this year’s venue, T3 Bayside. The lineup included 13 designers with an array of looks. The location’s cool concrete and high ceiling beams acted as a blank canvas for the designers to transform into their unique concepts.
Artistry flowed from designers to attendees with a host of tastefully curated looks. Seats filled to the brim, cameras at the ready and just as the music started, heads crank toward the giant screen at the end of the runway — so it begins.
RT Artelier Co
The day started softly with RT Artelier Co’s ethereal showcase. A beautiful blend of Dhaka handwoven muslin, organic cotton and natural dyes flowed down the runway as the models took their first steps. The designer is known for taking inspiration from contemporary art, translating to a “less is more” design ethos on Saturday’s runway. Soft greens, deep blues and burnt orange hues were most prominent within this collection.
Narvan
The Vancouver-based brand accentuates timeless elegance through its attention to detail and fine craftsmanship. Named after the Farsi word for “elm tree,” Narvan use their garments to celebrate the earth and its resources.
They balance the elevated feel of a high-end brand with their fluid, whimsical aesthetic, making the garments both environmentally conscious and accessibly chic.
Tailored Noise
Tristan Anatol’s debut collection at Fashion Art Toronto was an absolute success. This collection hit all the notes: the music, the makeup, even the pacing of the models — an impressive feat for an up-and-coming designer with 19 looks overall.
His designs represent the stages of the creative process, from pressure to mastery. Anatol uses his suiting skills to blend alternative draping, asymmetrical cuts and just the right amount of lace keeping things fresh. The emotions he expressed through this collection felt raw yet relatable, something many others have difficulty articulating through clothing.
Kyle Gervacy
Kyle Gervacy continued to keep energies high as he kicked off his show with an interpretive dancer — the layered details of their pants mimicked their every movement down the runway.
This collection showcased an assortment of eye-catching metallic accessories, a consistent deep wine-like colour palette and sultry exaggerated slits in all the gowns.
The addition of Kimono-inspired pieces called back to the brand’s Asian Creole focus as their website states — a beautiful merge of cultures within fashion.
Styntsov
The Styntsov collection is for jet-setters who would never be caught dead at the airport in sweats. This collection offered classic stewardess imagery with elevated silhouettes, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. The designer’s use of fitted suits, tulle skirts and innovative pleats completely changed how we think about pantsuits. The garments had just the right amount of plane motifs, keeping the theme consistent throughout while still being curated for everyday wear.
Zoestone
Is it the world’s weight on your shoulders? Or could it be Zoestone’s opening curtain-gown look?
As the first model strutted down the runway carrying an intricate curtain dress, two more followed bare, in just their undergarments. Using the curtain as a shield from the audience, the models dressed themselves and reappeared in the first two looks of the show — a spectacle that caused pandemonium in the camera pit.
The designer Zoe Stone debuted an extensive array of textile mending and construction skills through ultra-puffed pieces, boning and hand-stitched embellishments.
Creation and interconnectedness were major themes of this collection. Stone created the garments in pairs to contrast opposing textures and colours while showcasing earth tones and bird-like construction. These themes connect back to the global map printed on the opening curtain, with the garments embodying imagery found in nature to exhibit unity in all life forms.
Inbetween
Industry veterans, Inbetween focused on capturing the essence of the space between here and there. This collective group of designers, made up of four individuals, feel fashion can be a stop along the way or a transition between identities with the models in makeup that highlights this theme of blank space. This collection goes beyond traditional fashion boundaries, as seen in their interpretation of a peacoat — no longer a symbol solely identified with the military but a chic gender-fluid gown.
Process visuals
Process visuals are the conceptual designs straight from the mind of Jessy Colucci. This collection showcased masterfully draped black garments, tattered umbrellas and functional rain boots. Drawing on themes similar to Balenciaga, Colucci uses minimal accents with a subversive technique to show that some fashion rules are meant to be broken.
Garments are often cut in non-traditional ways to remain environmentally conscious, but the striking silhouettes are the real stand out of this collection. Every minor detail added a thought-provoking display, leaving attendees to draw conclusions about the garments’ true intentions.
Gorm
Gorm was a beautifully diverse collection with the models to match. Gorm’s showcase was boldly eccentric with a grandeur allure that is not afraid to command attention — ‘here I am in all my glory.’ The designer uses fashion to expand on important concepts of non-conformist identity.
Models strutted down the runway in fully lace gowns, celebrating the human figure and gender fluidity with full transparency. This collection used natural fibers and elements like the tree branch to create one-of-a-kind garments from recycled materials. The designer proved their unique take on garment construction through a brown feather top, which blurred the lines between man and animal.
Stitsenko
Sewing instructor and seamstress for Canada Goose, Mariia Stitsenko’s collection showed audiences that black and white is not always bland. No one would ever dare question her plethora of seamstress skills after this collection.
The garments screamed elegance and regency with the designer’s unique perspective on these themes in the modern era. Say goodbye to stuffy gala outfits by welcoming unique cutouts accentuated by scalloped-edging and lace panelling. But by far, the most standout moment from this showcase was the jellyfish umbrella accessory that accompanied the final look.
Michnat Fashion House
Michnat Fashion House brought African couture to the streets of Toronto with their jeweled gowns — giving face, body, and a sense of royalty. Custom form-fitting bustiers and adorable blush pink hues were a large part of this collection’s signature.
The show’s standout, however, was a glove and headpiece combo, catching the light of the cameras and turning any lucky wearer into a princess.
Ravencourt
Fantasy-inspired clothing is not only reserved for Halloween or renaissance fairs but is something that anyone can incorporate into daily fashion. Ravencourt celebrates this motto with dramatic flared sleeves, waist-snatching corsets, and jaw-dropping capes. Think dark academic-wear meets modern interpretations of dress.
The designer’s impactful stance on individuality within fashion resonated with many. The attendees understood the importance of dressing true to yourself every day — as you never know what outfit may be your last.
The fashion world is ever-evolving, welcoming all individuals excited about not only the artistry of this industry but the social justice applications that come with it. Fashion Art Toronto continues to support designers of all walks of life with a diverse range of skill sets, acting as a shining beacon of light to navigate new designers in this space.
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