A Look At Fashion Art Toronto F/W 2023
Written By: Jade Florendo
Fashion Arts Toronto, the sizzling hub for up and coming fashion designers, and creatives was held November 16th to 19th. The event was held at the Black Creek Assembly (131 Mccormack St) Toronto, Canada. Designers from diverse backgrounds and aesthetics came together to present their collections through runway shows, exhibitions, installations, and pop-ups.
The show was attended by a mosaic of personalities celebrating creativity, individuality and pushing boundaries. Our team, who was provided with Media Passes by Fashion Art Toronto, was thrilled to attend all four days of the event. This exposure to the newest cutting edge Canadian fashion and designers, is immensely important for fashion students, as they start to become more familiar with the industry and the upcoming trends, as well as have an opportunity to network with people in their industry.
The fashion show held a luxury pop up shop concept with curated collation of black owned fashion brands showcasing fashion, accessories and statement pieces. These brands includes: Kadiju, Desireeiyama , Afrique KOD , Monaya , UlaTheLabel, and The Playground.
Afrique KOD specializes in apparel and accessories that fuses African modern fashion together. Each apparel and accessory that are seen in Afrique KOD are handmade from Nigeria. Afrique KOD creates beaded apparels ranging from neck to head pieces, from a variety of ear pieces, beaded purses and an assortment of beaded ornaments. Afrique KOD also creates Adire textiles which are traditional dyed clothes from Nigeria, and stylize them into clothing, purses, wearable arts and more.
The Fashion Playground showcases an assortment of apparel, jewelry, accessory and beauty products from over 20 Canadian artisans.
Although there were a myriad of brands that were all distinctive in their own way, a few of the brands that were most noticeable were LOVE, CALISTA, and bead n butter.
LOVE, CALISTA, is owned by a Canadian immigrant woman of color that creates handmade jewelries. Taking inspiration from different cultures of the world, the collection of jewelries are uniquely designed, reflecting their beliefs of embracing diversity.
Bead n’ butter showcases vibrant and colourful beaded earrings, rings, pins, studs, and bolos. The jewelries are created by Jessie Pruden a Metis beader from Winnipeg. With her artistry of beading, Jessie Pruden draws her stylish designs from her culture, nature, and her friends and family.
November 16 designers:
Designers: AYIMACH HORIZONS, Mayer, Tristan Rehel, FUGNITTO
Some highlights:
From sparkle to dazzle, Mayer’s designs are picturesque.
With his wild and vivid designs and interlacing sequences with it, Mayer’s apparel are stunning and intense.
Tristan Rehel’s designs are striking and animated; each piece is an ever alluring pandemonium that hems the line of fantasy and reality.
November 17 designers:
Designers: KYANA KINGBIRD, MADALEINE NELSON, LA NOUVELLE ROUTE DU COTON, SUBURBAN DEVIANT, L.A. XANDER, MACEL, KYNG KEVY By SkinnyBoiX, and House of Hendo.
Some highlights:
House of Hendo features a wonderland of a kind of design. Vibrant and intricate, each design is surreal and appears to have come from a daydream. The Suburban deviant showcases a kaleidoscope of designs that are distinctive, eccentric and unexpected.
November 18 designers:
Designers: SANDY BOTTOM SWIMWEAR, DEHMIN OSAWAMICK CLELAND, KOH MONTREAL, NAZIA RAHMAN, MICHNAT FASHION HOUSE, ZEDES, Jessica Halabi, NARY AREF, MR. HAQUE, Martianally, LACEL, vveyago, RACCOONGUTS
Some highlights: Vveyago’s styles are avant-garde and cyberpunk, letting us take a peek into the future of fashion. MARTIANALLY’s designs are full of life, outlandish and extraordinary.
November 19 designers:
Designers: MS. MERI MAK, KDJM, KOLLEEN BOUTIQUE, RT, TMU, Kerotix, SOLOUK, MEESH, BRANDON KEIR, PURPLE HEARTS SUPPLY, KENDRICK TRAN
Some highlights:
Kerotix tailors apparel that are futuresque and revolutionary.
SOLOUK displays silhouettes that are sleek, evoking elegance and creativity.
Fashion Arts Toronto has always been a catalyst for pushing the envelope, and this year’s show was no exception. Beyond the glamour of the runway, the event emphasized diversity, and the evolving nature of fashion as an art form. The fusion of art, culture, and fashion continues to captivate in this year’s Fashion Arts Toronto.