It was a cold and rainy night for 2009's Nuit Blanche and all the fashionista's were in the Fermenting Cellar of the Distillery Disctrict.
What was happening on this night you ask? The Art of Fashion 2009 Design Competition. This year the theme was iconic power and the top ten design finalists debuted their fiercest designs. At first glance the Fermenting Cellar appear to be black, feathers and velvet galore but after a closer look the designs shone through. Each designer was required to submit designs that symbolized iconic power and this theme was interpreted in very unique ways. Here are some of my personal favourites:
1) Pink Ladies, a design duo who were inspired by the iconic Canadian artists, The Group of Seven. The ladies chose six iconic paintings from the Group of Seven and recreated them in the form of an outfit fit for a futuristic warrior woman.
2) Harsh Crystalis, a clothing line created by Ryerson University Fashion Design Grad, Kelly Henderson. Zap! Pow! Kabam! Bright yellow, blue, red, green and purple, this collection is for women on the hunt who is ready to fight justice. Sparkly accents, avant-garde lines and a slight Parisienne influence, this collection instantly stood out.
3) Maybe, the up and coming clothing line by Toronto's Sarah Catalfo featured lace, lace and more lace. Catalfo took inspiration from her 2009 collection, Bandits in Bows and showed that just because the temperature has dropped, it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style. Using heavier fabrics for the collection she created a beautiful kimono inspired black silk taffeta jacket and a purple sequined mini dress.
Clothing design wasn't the only feature of the Art of Fashion event, accompanying the design booths was a trunk show featuring Canada's jewellery design talent. Slashpile is a unique jewellery line by twin designers that take moments in their lives, whether it be overcoming addiction, genetics or their aspirations and express them through jewellery. My favourite piece was a pair of earrings that slightly resembled an atom. There was also LAG Concepts which creates beaded statement necklaces and floral arrangements, a very intricate and unique concept indeed.
It was a joyous evening, a fabulous evening. In attendance were designers Zoran Dobric, Project Runway Canada's, Jessica Biffi and competition judge, David Dixon. It was truly a place where designers could support designers, something that this Toronto fashionista certainly approves of.
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