What to know
- Couture for a Cause is donating $150,000 to support innovative mental health programs at CAMH.
- The new initiatives focus on the therapeutic power of fashion, beauty, and self-care for clients.
- Organizers say building confidence through personal style can be a stepping stone to improved well-being.
- The partnership reflects a growing trend of creative approaches to mental health support.
Fashion isn’t just about looking good, it’s about feeling good, too. Couture for a Cause is putting that belief into action, donating $150,000 to CAMH in support of mental health.
On July 22, the Hairdressers for Love & Peace Foundation and the Bloor-Yorkville BIA collaborated to bring back the third annual Couture for a Cause Yorkville fashion show.
From beloved Yorkville hairstylists to global fashion brands, some even featured on Netflix series, and sixty models, the fashion community came together to raise funds for mental health.
How do fashion and mental health come together?
“Fashion, beauty, hair, makeup, is all about feeling good,” Founder of Couture for a Cause, Daniel Fiorio, told Now Toronto. “It’s all about feeling good about yourself, looking in the mirror, that self-confidence. Well-being starts there.”
During the pandemic, the government told the community that hairdressers were non-essential, a stance Fiorio disagreed with.
“After 50 years of hair, I believe what we do is part of well-being, and therefore for mental health… I wanted to prove that hairdressers, not just me, but all the salons, especially in Yorkville, are here supporting the cause… What we do provides wellness,” he explained.
Hamilton-born fashion designer Charles Lu added that he chose to participate to raise awareness of mental health.
“It was such an honour to be a part of this and support mental health awareness, bridging that gap, and starting those conversations with fashion,” he told Now Toronto. “It just means so much to me that what I do can go beyond the lens of just luxury and fashion, and really help others and shine a spotlight on what needs to be done.”
Why a 1960’s Yorkville theme?
Fiorio explained that Yorkville is often known as a “snobby village or area that is in town,” but that in reality, Yorkville has a “huge heart” and is focused on giving back.
“Beyond all those fancy storefronts, there’s lots of love, lots of care, and just beautiful energy all around,” he said.
The event did, in fact, spotlight Yorkville businesses through its participating designers and hairstylists:
- Charles Lu – Salon Daniel
- MAYER – Axe & Hatchet Grooming Club
- Demascare – Taz Hair Company
- Ocean Kiana – Suki’s (flying in from Vancouver)
- Rock’N Karma – Earth Salon by Michael Crispel
- Leyla Kashani – LEONETTI+co
Beyond that, participating restaurants and bars are all from the Yorkville area, including beloved Paros.
Music is at the heart of it all, too, according to Fiorio.
“Yokrville was also, in the 60s, the hub for folk music. Neil Young is one of my all-time favourites. Tonight, they’re going to play Harvest Moon, and Yorkville Village was where all this music was created,” Fiorio said.
“We are honouring the Indigenous for using the land, but also honouring the 60s and all those artists that created that music in this village.”
How did people show up for the theme?
Attendee Shellianne showed up in a Rock ‘N Karma outfit in support of the designer going on stage.
“I’ve been wearing her clothes since she first started many, many years ago. I travel all over the world, and I wear her clothes. I get stopped everywhere in the world, and they want to know who it is. And I tell them it’s Rock and Karma, and it’s just really the most incredible clothing you can wear,” she told Now Toronto.
“Whatever. I have a little injury right now, and I have to tell you that wearing Rock and Karma just makes you feel wonderful. You just feel great wearing her clothes.”
Attendee Winnie G. is also wearing Rock ‘N Karma, from their snake collection, in support of their show.
But attendee Teisha Fiorio is wearing vintage clothes.
“I dug deep into my closet, so my outfit is vintage. This is a Betsey Johnson vest, and I’m wearing All Saints, and gloves from a Canadian designer that goes way back to the 80s,” she said.
She wore it for comfort and to represent Canadian design, Teisha Fiorio explained.
