Toronto Alternative Fashion Week: Day 2

Project Runway Canada's winner, Sunny Fong (middle), with finalist Jessica Biffi (far right) at Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week

It was a full house at the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar for the second day of Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week. Fashion designers, live performers and mixed media installations explored the theme of ‘Planet’ as a place. Turns out the inspiration behind the collections and shows crossed nearly all genres: romance, carnivals, The Matrix, street wear, recycling, and classic lines.

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Performer sheVisions at FAT

sheVisions opened the night with an impressive acrobatic performance glittering in silver and suspended from the ceiling, giving the impression that this planet had come to life. The runway shows started with similar acrobatics from two performers wearing earthy graffiti-printed garments by fashion design label Zuzanium. Here’s more of what went down the runway on Planet Day.

Runway Shows for Day 2 (part 1):

Runway Shows for Day 2 (part 2):

Zuzanium

Zuzanium collection

The Zuzanium collection is preoccupied with tying on parts of the garments to change their shape and appearance. Every model played with how to wear the skirts, hoodies, trousers, etc. Shapes were modern and hard geometics. Not for the wall-flower or the uninspired, the story here is one that the wearer determines and changes according to the mood or the desired effect.

Anika

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Anika collection at FAT

Anika’s colletion showed ripped tights, a stringy modern top (pictured above), patches of plaid on men’s wear, gathered skirts and prominent zippers. The show consisted of under a dozen pieces; it will be interesting to see what comes of this modern street-spirit label.

Andal-lopez

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Andal-Lopez collection at FAT

The collection here played with greys and blacks with a series of casual inter-changeable pieces for men and women. The models walked very slowly and with a certain indifference to the show, suggesting a kind of uninentional fashion moment happening as they went by. Great to see men’s wear created in Canada.

David C. Wigley

Fashion designer David C. Wigley with a model wearing items from his first collection titled 'Worth'

The Worth collection by David C. Wigley was an ambitious first project by the designer whose primary concern in designing this line centres on raising social consciousness about our ecological impact. This concept materializes in the notion of “worth” and ultimately the political and environmental statement potential of the fashion consumer. The collection offered modern pieces for men and women; sweaters and knit dresses, tailored skirts with wide belts, cardigans, dress shirts and dark trousers for men. Already a crowd favourite, a very promising and exciting start for this fashion designer.

Amanda Rose

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Amanda Rose collection at FAT

This collection was all about feminine fun with colour-trimmed trenches and leather bombers, flirty vests and pencil skirts, and a cheerful bright green mini-jumpsuit. The lingerie collection that followed featured similar green colours for fitted stretch slips finished with cream lace. A great collection that’s ready-to-wear for the snazzy office bunch.

Cherry Blossom

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Amanda Rose collection at FAT

The Cherry Blossom collection showcased multi-layered mini-skirts, tailored flirty blouses and jackets in black, ripped skinny pants in yellow, and length-wise ruffle trim fluttering down soft-grey dresses and skirts. A fun collection that is inspired and easy to wear.

Cristina Sabaiduc

Fashion Designer Cristina Sabaiduc (middle) and models for her collection Romandin

This new designer just finished her third year in Fashion Arts at Ryerson University and sent down the runway at [FAT] one of the most innovative and inspired collections we’ve seen all week. Called Romandin, the collection offers cream feminine-shapes detailed with black iron filings that resemble mini-donoughts and are held into position using concealed magnets. Sabaiduc said that she wanted to create unique designs and she explored polarities and magnets to create a dress, vest, and bolero with this startling effect. Her other show pieces are equally impressive; fabric remnants are cut into strips and then crocheted and knit into a stunning floor-sweeping strapless gown. Sabaiduc’s extraordinary talent makes us excited about what she will produce next year. Art meets fashion never looked this good!

Deadly Nighshades (DNS)

Deadly Night Shades collection at FAT

This show was one of the more playful collections to go down the runway at [FAT] with easy stretch fabrics boldly printed with the signature bicycle silhouette. Lots of two-toned soft grey trousers and skirts paired with bold orange capes, hooded vests and t-shirts. Much-appreciated by the audience was the male modeling of a bright green pair of underpants now tighty-greenies with print lettering on the rear.

Paper People Clothing

Designer of label Paper People Clothing (left) walks with her model

The collection by Paper People Clothing started as a catfight between two models and ended with the simulated death of the last one to walk the runway. Somewhat unusual a story and so likewise were the garments, with stretch fabrics in different shapes and colours. Streetwear for the ultra-edgy.

Elizaveta Yankelovich aka Kameleon

Elizaveta Yankelovich aka Kameleon collection

Elizaveta Yankelovich aka Kameleon collection

If there was an award for most captivating collection on the runway this week so far, the prize would go to Elizaveta Yankelovich. Her fun and whimsical collection showcases everyday items- tapes, toys, Hawaiian skirts- strung up as bold ornamental necklaces on otherwise bare models wearing only full colourful tutus. A provocative show challenging  fashion and beauty.

Baby Steinberg

"Meet My Art" collection by Baby Steinberg

Another spectacular show today was Baby Steinberg’s impressive “Meet My Art” collection confronting us with our consumption of material goods by setting them as the very ‘fabric’ for garments. Cell phones, teddy bears, key chains, vinyl records- it was all fair game and made for a powerful statement about our society’s appetite for disposible items. A truly refreshing and thought-provoking collection.

Karey Shinn

Karey Shinn's collection Too Hot Too Wet Too Dangerous

This collection was titled Too Hot Too Wet Too Dangerous and featured three parts of theatrics that showed various lifestyles associated with the label. The show played with the idea of the swimsuit and we saw fun down vests in the style of lifejackets paired with orange leggings, and a sexy printed swimsuit. Men’swear was shown- neutral dark palette for a team of talented male dancers who also did a lively dance routine in full polar-bear costumes.

Today’s Schedule at Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week: Day 3- Gutter