Alternative Fashion Week Toronto

[FAT]: Day Two

Today, [FAT]'s artists continued to investigate the ideas and issues surrounding Home, Planet, Gutter, and Beyond. In response to Earth Day, I TTC'ed my way to the runway as a dozen designers left the comforts of Home and set out to explore the Planet.

Zuzanium focused on soft structure with minimalistic lines and futuristic fabrics.

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Anika played with proportion and balance, turning silhouettes from classic to modern. Her recurring asymmetrical, exposed zippers further proved she has a different way of looking at traditional design principles ... or she needs a new measuring tape.

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Menswear reigned supreme for Andal-Lopez, who showed a capsule collection of casual, slouchy separates on casual, slouchy models.

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David C Wigley's Worth was darkly romantic without being harsh. He effectively merged the serious and subdued with the soft and feminine.

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Amanda Rose's slim lines and feminine colours were pretty basic, but pretty nonetheless.

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Cherry Blossom drew attention to conflicting but compatible details: ruffles and sparkles versus rips and shredding.

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Cristina Sabaiduc's Romandin experimented with structure and texture, creating a simultaneously earthy and ethereal line.

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Deadly Nightshades (environmentally-conscious designers by day, style-conscious bikers by night) showed bright, sporty pieces made of sustainable fabrics.

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Paper People Clothing edged a little too close to cardboard-box-chic for my tastes, thanks to the models' public drunkenness and long dreadlocks. But I guess that was the point, right?

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Elizaveta Yankelovich's Kameleon line contrasted ballerina on the bottom with anything and everything (but sometimes nothing) on top.

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Baby Steinberg's Meet My Art collection recycled, reduced, and reused everything from teddy bears to cell phone cases: Earth Day-friendly trash couture.

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Too Hot Too Wet Too Dangerous, by Karey Shinn, was one third runway show, one third performance art, and one third political statement. I'm not sure I completely 'got it', but three rowdy fans (too drunk, too loud, too close) lead me to believe it was fantastic.

Karey Shinn


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All photos by Alana Seldon.


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