Zoë Stone’s F/W 2025 collection explores identity, emotion and authenticity
By Jahrell Teodoro
With her debut at Fashion Art Toronto’s (FAT) F/W season last year, up-and-coming designer Zoë Stone created an unforgettable experience with an iconic runway that combined theatrical presentation, high-quality designs and looks overflowing with excitement. As Toronto Fashion Week returned on Nov. 14, she got ready to present her latest major collection, “UNEARTHED,” at this year’s FAT runway.
“UNEARTHED” features a more gothic approach than her previous season’s theme and explores darker subjects through a philosophical and aesthetic lens that touches the audience. Its rawness highlights many of the garments’ different textures and fabrics that complemented each other so well that it felt like the models were from a different world. From genuine leather to eye-catching patterns, it was an experimental contortion of raw materials and sculptural silhouettes.
Model, Dazo, walks down the runway at Fashion Art Toronto.
One of Stone’s outfits, featuring a leather jacket with layered garments, set the stage with its daring look. The use of raw materials with textured fabric manipulation demonstrated how the lines of fashion can be literally bent. With white brushstroke accents across the garments, the small details matter the most, and Stone knew what she was doing.
Model, Freya, walks the runway in a piece titled “BLACK DISTRESSED PUFFER 003.”
With the most exotic, yet beautifully executed pieces, this look by Stone was, in my opinion, the most unique of them all. The dramatically sculpted sleeves, fused with the cocoon-like neckpiece, were so stunning. This, paired with the towering hairstyle, put the whole outfit together and ended the show flawlessly.
Model, Daniel, walks for “UNEARTHED” a collection designed by Zoë Stone.
With the rest of the darker-toned garments, this third outfit had many earthier elements that added versatility within her collection. The outfit featured a carved wooden necklace alongside patch-worked, wide-legged pants that emphasized Stone’s craftiness within her work.
After her runway, she spoke about how this collection was more about exploring identity. Stone’s early teases on Instagram built anticipation, with many eagerly waiting for this new project.
“With the clothes, I played more with furs and leathers and also a lot of textile and fabric manipulations,” said Stone while looking back on her creative process.
Stone stated that she used these materials to maximize the emotional impact of her work. She prioritized having genuine, high-quality materials because she wanted them to create a dark and gothic essence within her collection. She also emphasized her dedication to creating pieces that enable each model to feel authentically themselves.
One of the runway models, Dymund Pinklady, made an appearance in Stone’s runway collection. They emphasized the importance of having a collaborative creative process.
“People need people. Simply be your authentic self. To share your story means a lot,” they said.
Rick Dazo, another one of Stone’s models for FAT, expressed a similar viewpoint. He stated that shows like FAT allow designers to freely present their artistic expression, as well as foster a creative culture where one can be inspired or inspire others.
“I love being a walking piece of art,” he said. He expanded on how fashion, like all forms of art, holds deeper narratives, giving the artist the ability to express who they are and personify their emotions.
Since the beginning, Stone has given priority to adaptability in her designs. Rather than preparing all of her pieces in advance, she begins with individual elements of each one, then investigates how to combine them.
At the Nov. 14 show, Dazo noted how Stone had altered one of the pieces he was wearing to align better with his proportions before he stepped on stage. “I don’t plan it out as the full outfit. I make pieces, and then plan how I’m gonna style it together,” Stone said. Her clothing embodies a feeling of adaptability, enabling models and audiences to customize, reimagine and completely embrace each piece to their own unique style.
Looking back from her debut show at FAT F/W 2024, it was evident that Stone is an artist as opposed to just a designer. With “UNEARTHED,” she continues to encourage the audience to find a spark within themselves and to create with their own personal essence. She stated that although FAT is a professional fashion show, she designs to provoke a genuine, sincere reaction rather than to suit everyone.
“They don’t even have to like it, but as long as they feel strongly, I feel like I did my job,” Stone expressed.
