Results tagged “daviddixon”

Brilliant bit of news for a beleaguered biz: the Ontario government's giving young love—for fashion design—a chance with a new Youth Entrepreneurship Partnerships program in cohort with the Toronto Fashion Incubator. The $70,000 grant from the Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services will fund A Passion for Fashion, YES, and TFI's new project for maybe-someday design stars. The project will target youth and high school students in thirteen priority, underprivileged neighbourhoods in Toronto, said YES prez Nancy Schaefer in this morning's announcement. Of the expected one hundred–plus applicants, twenty-five will be chosen for a Dragon's Den–style competition; the winner gets expert mentorship, a monetary prize, and a year's membership and studio space at TFI. "It's such a nurturing place, and even the competition among designers is positive," said designer David Dixon, who "came from meagre beginnings" himself before launching his fashion career with the Incubator. "This is a great opportunity to network, and to work for yourself."

Denis Gagnon is wearing sunglasses, indoors, and it’s not even night. Although, the trays of emptied wine glasses could fool those uninitiated in this fashion-media rite of passage: the Holt Renfrew cocktail party. This year, to launch the newly named LG Fashion Week, we’re self-congratulating in the recently reno’d contemporary design area. It’s a clever change in location: “They used to have it in accessories, but who’s going to pick up a $1,600 bag?” posits one smart editor. “Here I actually want to shop!” It’s also very shiny and very bright—just not quite bright enough for shades.

When media tent chatter turns to irony in Fashion Week, we're not talking t-shirts. We're talking about how the biggest buzz is more about international "it" models (like Amanda Laine, Elmer Olsen's latest star) than local designers. Or about the funny-strange feeling it gives you to write about buying clothes while reading headlines about bank collapses and home foreclosures. Or about shivering through a show comprised of nothing but hot-as-white-sand swimwear.

Carlie Wong. Photo by Mike Campbell.