There was a lighter show load than usual at the World MasterCard Fashion Week tent on Thursday and that meant there was time to reflect back on the 10 days of presentations that made up the Spring 2013 season in Toronto.
While it’s easiest to focus on shortcomings (fashion week’s middle-of-nowhere date and disjointed show schedule are the most urgent long-standing issues), there’s also a lot that’s working.
MasterCard, the title sponsor of the shows under the massive tent in David Pecaut Square, runs a promotion called Stylicity to coincide with fashion week. Participating stores offer up discounts to MasterCard holders and local bloggers are engaged to hype up the shopping scenes in different neighbourhoods around the city. It’s a smart way to get people spending and engage local retailers who are, oddly, often left out of the fashion week equation. The next step is to get more store owners into front row seats so consumers shopping local are buying local too.
As for those seats, the best ones at fashion week are in more intimate spaces. Venues like The Collection’s lofty spot at the Burroughes Building, The Shows’ runway room at Andrew Richard Designs and WMC Fashion Week’s Studio fit the scale of our industry much better than bigger catwalks. Even smaller events like Common Cloth’s relaunch at Soho House and Holt Renfrew’s designer breakfast at its café can build a lot of buzz.
And speaking of Holt Renfrew, kudos to the department store’s marketing team for taking a chance on showing clothing you can buy right now on Monday. The in-season fashion show will likely be the norm sooner than we think.
But back to Thursday’s shows. A clever DJ cued up Lana Del Rey’s “Blue Jeans” for the Triarchy denim presentation. It featured lots of svelte trousers in ombré, tie-dye and metallic washes.
Next up was Rachel Sin. Check out her collection in our final behind-the-scenes feature.
At 7 pm, Soia & Kyo sent out a rainbow of windbreakers in washed out shades of pink, mint, beige and cream. Arthur Mendonça ended the evening with lots of kimono inspired pieces and golden dresses in tinfoil lace and a liquid metallic jersey.
On today’s schedule: World MasterCard Fashion Week closes with Parazeo Couture, Travis Taddeo, UNTTLD, Allistyle, Vawk and Express.
