Startup Fashion Week Returned For Year Nine in Toronto
Startup Fashion Week Founder / Executive Producer Jodi Goodfellow
Photo Credit: Jim Orgill
700+ guests attended events in Toronto during Startup Fashion Week (SFW) for its post-pandemic return. The events last week sold out to a growing network of fashion enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.
The highly successful four-day event provided a platform for emerging designers to increase visibility through networking events, a conference, a photo shoot circuit and a prestigious runway show. In its ninth year, SFW drew in participants from cities such as Niagara, London, Sarnia, Orangeville, Thunder Bay, Montreal and Halifax.
Hosted by Dr. Ann Kaplan, former star on Real Housewives of Toronto, a true sense of community was evident at the SFW runway show on Friday October 14th. SFW opened the show with a special video tribute acknowledging how the pandemic impacted small businesses in the fashion industry by doing a call to action in May 2020 collecting masks made by designers across Canada along with hand written letters explaining how the pandemic impacted their business, which was then given to Mayor John Tory and Premier Doug Ford to demonstrate how the fashion industry was quick to react in keeping everyone healthy and safe. The video also referenced how SFW founder Jodi Goodfellow took time away from her professional career as a High School Teacher to pursue her dream job as a Flight Attendant in the past year, drawing parallels to the pursuit of startup designers being showcased who are pursuing their dream as a fashion designer despite many challenges in order to live with 'No Regrets'.
Held at Daniels Spectrum, the standing-room-only runway showcase presented collections from Canadian designers who made their debut including The Ambrose Collective, ooobaby, This is Willow, Atelier SARE, Samantha Authentic, LYMOON, Charming Parrot and XANA Couture. A range of ready to wear, bridal and luxury ski / snowboarding apparel with an array of colour and texture is what the audience experienced from SFW's most promising Canadian fashion startups. Some of which proudly demonstrated their approach to eco / ethical fashion and two brands, Samantha Authentic and Atelier SARE raised awareness for the war in Armenia.
Dr. Ann Kaplan entertained guests with an unexpected performance to a song she pre-recorded called 'Life is Your Catwalk' with a flash mob of dancers and models showcasing her very own fashion line, QuAnn. She closed the event with a show-stopping surprise during bridal designer XANA Couture's presentation by performing a vow renewal ceremony live on the runway as a certified licensed Wedding Officiant in Ontario.
“I’m amazed, year after year, how much our community grows and based on the feedback we get I am also proud of how influential this platform is for fashion entrepreneurs,” said Jodi Goodfellow, Executive Producer of SFW. “I wasn't sure what to expect this year after not executive events accessible to the public for the past 3 years but it has been incredible. People shouldn't underestimate the talent or potential of Canadian fashion startups because we have proven they are able to succeed and the pandemic really proved how essential the fashion / textile industry is to our society and economy. With the same growing support from media partners, SFW will be able to draw more awareness for our participants and continue to put Canadian fashion on a wider landscape. I look forward to our tenth anniversary in Toronto next year.”
www.startupfashionweek.com
www.facebook.com/StartupFW
Twitter: @StartupFW
Instagram: @startupfashionweek
Hashtag: #SFWToronto
www.facebook.com/StartupFW
Twitter: @StartupFW
Instagram: @startupfashionweek
Hashtag: #SFWToronto
Dr. Ann Kaplan Performing Vow Renewal During XANA Couture's Show
Photo Credit: Jim Orgill
Designer: LYMOON
Photo Credit: @lateralus13
Designer: The Ambrose Collective
Photo Credit: @majidmehrabanphotography
Designer: This Is Willow
Photo Credit: Jim Orgill
Designer: ooobaby
Photo Credit: @Panolegus
Designer: Samantha Authentic
Photo Credit: Tyrone Islington
Designer: Atelier SARE
Photo Credit: @Panolegus
Designer: XANA Couture
Photo Credit: @ambri.ph
Designer: Charming Parrot
Photo Credit: @Panolegus
Dr. Ann Kaplan Performing 'Life is Your Catwalk'
Photo Credit: Tyrone Islington
