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Hey, glamourpusses — get out your stilettos! It’s Toronto Fashion Week, and the city’s prettiest petunias are tramping around in a whirl of runway shows, parties and awards presentations in a fit of patriotic fashion fever.
While everyone from seasoned style veterans to baby fashionistas just out of design school is trotting out their wares this week, NOW fills its beauteous page with local designers from the Toronto Fashion Incubator. The TFI (for those in the know) is, like, the most glamorous non-profit in town.
Somewhere sparkly in the west end of Toronto, it carefully grows entrepreneurial young fashion designers in petri dishes. They just throw in a small selection of recent grads, some sequins, some group therapy, some sewing machines and — voila! — the future of Canadian fashion! TFI designers, many of whom will participate in this week’s New Labels show, flashed their wares at NOW for a peek at what’s coming soon to a hip little boutique near you.
Wolves’ spring 2002 Sorority Slappers line, by Sabrina Albanese and Joyce Lo (2, 7, 8), is full of ribbons, bow ties and funky graphic prints for the slutty cheerleader “thinking of secrets and cheers, popcorn and books, photos and a fuck!” (their words, not ours — we don’t swear). At Awkso (675 Queen West, 416-703-6660), Jet Rag (359 Queen West, 416-979-2677) and Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor West, 416-922-2333).
Chic wares from Harebell by Shelli Oh, spring 2002 (3). Available at Maxi Boutique (575 Danforth, 416-461-6686), Parade (315 Queen West, 416-971-7767) and Solstice (111 Jarvis, 416-363-7557).
Ana Kuzmanic by Ana Kuzmanic, fall 2002 (5, 6). This is her first collection, but her cool, fragile, geometric shapes will be available in selected stores by fall.
Flowy, simple elegance by Vassel & Esoin — Kirk Vassel and Vanesa Esoin (1, 4). At Tocca Finita (315 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville, 905-338-5800).
