Toronto Fashion Week

Toronto Fashion Week

TORONTO–Not all designers walk the same runway. In true fashion week style, many presented their collections far away from the glossy white stage. Here are three must-know labels that left us wanting more.

Toronto Fashion Week

Known as “The Jersey Boys of Toronto,” Greta Constantine designers Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill have won the hearts of many who don their draped wonders from the runway to red carpet. This season, the pair ventured out on a global escapade and debuted a collection interwoven with a multitude of inspirations that seemingly reflected the multicultural tapestry of Canada. From Japanese cuts to Tibetan shapes, the label satisfied the taste of those with a nomadic sense of style.

Toronto Fashion Week

One of the most highly anticipated shows of the season was the return of Arthur Mendonça, who escaped the public eye following bankruptcy in 2008. The once golden boy of the Canadian fashion scene made a triumphant return to the runway with a collection that oozed sex appeal from first to last look. Set to the track “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie, Mendonça enriched his line-up with luxe jewel tones that nodded to the silhouettes of Yves Saint Laurent but with contemporary fluidity. The designer, who once showed during New York Fashion Week, will undoubtedly reign again come fall.

Toronto Fashion Week

Notable menswear tailor Philip Sparks made his second foray into womenswear with a collection that polished up the traditional Canadiana look. As his rosy-cheeked models sauntered down the runway in the city’s historic Burroughes Building (think Milk Studios, but rustic), we took note of the boldly printed dresses in macro maple leaves and the range of dark Melton coats made for him and her. Sparks’ traditional cuts and references to Canadian heritage mark him as the next top designer to brand the nation with smart style.