To heck with Christmas! … If you’re connected to the fashion industry, this is the most wonderful time of the year. As well as the most hectic, crazy, pressure-cooker-stressful and inspirational, gratifying, connect-with-your-tribe kind of experience. You make your mark, make new connections, raise awareness for your brand, and prove your mettle.
Fashion Week is a big deal in my industry, both globally and locally. And it only happens twice a year in March and September! However the Fall version is generally regarded in most industry markets to be the “really big shoe”.
Western Canada Fashion Week ran to packed shows September 26-29 at the Transalta Art Barns in Old Strathcona. This year I was only able to catch two shows, but the buzz was excellent about the show vibe, production quality, and designers showcased all throughout the week. WCFW Creative Director Sandra Sing Fernandes explains, the event concept is four nights of different programming with runway shows presented by local, Canadian and international designers. “We help support and develop new talent as well as showcase well known designers. Our international fashion week WCFW is a local/global event held here in Edmonton, with design competitions and student showcases as well as world class runway shows! This is our 16th year, and it just keeps growing and getting better”.
Wednesday night’s show kicked off with presentations including the Emerging Designer Competition and MC College Showcase. The requirement is to design one outfit, judged by industry professionals on construction, design, creativity and marketability. Young designers experience the runway presenting their garment on a model. And the big prize isn’t chump change either - first place Winner receives a WCFW runway showcase to present their collection the following season, complete production team and models, makeup/hair artists provided by WCFW ($2000.00 value). Plus a whole lot of exposure to help make connections and launch their career.
This fall`s entries included several MC College students who absolutely rocked the runway! I was proud to see former students Mona Mohamed and Gian Salvador take home first and second place respectively this season, and to see March 2018 winner Juliet Koski show her current collection. Plus kudos to new student Fatima Kahedizadeh who showed one of her designs on the runway for the first time.
Ramp up to Western Canada Fashion Week
A Review by Marni Walker