Judges 2012

2012 Art of Fashion Judges


Jessica Jenson Designer & President Jessica Jensen	Marie Saint Pierre Designer, Marie Saint Pierre Inc.	Michelle Bilodeau Editorial Director Front Row Magazine

Lisa Delorme Co-founder & CEO Rent Frock Repeat	Franco Mirabelli Head Designer & President, Franco Mirabelli Design Inc.	Jacqueline Parrish Fashion Editor Anokhi Magazine

Kristy Wieber Co-founder & President Rent Frock Repeat	Albert Yuen Designer 2011 Art of Fashion Winner	Norwayne Anderson Owner Norwayne Anderson Management Inc.

Mikhail Moudrakovski Designer & 2009 Art of Fashion Winner	Erin Hershberg Managing Editor TORO Magazine	Pheinixx Creative Director Pencil

Kait Walker Publisher Trends Magazine	Brent Weisgerber Men’s Premium Denim and Advanced Contemporary Brands Buyer, The Bay	Raw 2012 >

Jessica Jensen

Canadian-born, Jessica Jensen grew up in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario and moved to Toronto in 1997 to train in fashion at the prestigious Ryerson University. Jessica has since garnered over 10 years experience marketing and designing licensed and private label accessories for over 25 international brands including: Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, The Hudson Bay, Tommy Hilfiger, John Varvatos, Lulu Guinness, Claiborne, and Roots.

In 2008, Jessica Jensen launched her namesake, luxury handbag collection. Since its debut, the label has become a new must-have classic in designer accessories and has been featured on Fashion Television, ETalk Daily, Global News and across the pages of Vogue, InStyle, Lucky, Accessories, Fashion, Flare and Elle magazine. Celebrities including Katie Holmes, Helen Mirren, Courteney Cox, Abigail Breslin, Emily Hampshire, Kristin Booth and Sarah McLachlan have all been spotted carrying Jensen’s bags both on and off the red carpet.

Kait Walker

Kait Walker, current Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Trends, The Magazine for Canadian Fashion Retailers shares that “Canadian Fashion is an industry of heart, passion and people.” As Publisher of Canada's only B2B magazine serving the apparel industry and fashion retailers with 10,000 copies delivered to Canadian Womenswear Retailers; Kait also includes amongst her greatest accomplishments, her time spent as Publisher of Style Magazine and Canadian Jeweller Magazine, Publisher of Image Makers Magazine, and Mediaedge Communications

Publisher of Your City Magazines, Metroland Media Corporation.

Kirsty Wieber

For as long as Kristy Wieber can remember, she yearned for a career that would ignite her passions for art and fashion. Throughout her studies in Fashion Merchandising at Clark College in Vancouver, WA, Kristy would also draw and paint. Fascinated by cosmetics and the way in which it could transform any woman, Kristy worked with leading cosmetics brands in the U.S. and Canada, including Clinique, Prescriptives, Stila, and Philosophy for over fifteen years. Throughout her experience in the cosmetics industry, as both a makeup artist and manager, Kristy oversaw event planning, inventory control, sales strategies, team building and training.

Relocating to Canada in 2003, Kristy shifted gears and transferred into Executive Recruiting. With a creative hunger that wouldn’t die down, she took a position with The Art Institute of Toronto. Shortly after, she was recruited by a marketing firm. Here, she oversaw SEO, SEM, PPC, email campaigns, lead generation, conversion, and account management. Kristy possesses a diverse repertoire of skills from various industries, bringing her expertise in sales management and retail sales experience along with her artistic talents to Rent frock Repeat where she is the President and Co-founder.

Lisa Delrome

After completing her B.A. in English at Carleton University, the young and ambitious professional worked for over two decades at some of the world’s largest corporations including Coca-Cola and Xerox. For three years, Lisa served as President at the Art Institute of Toronto, recognized in the industry for its prestigious Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, and Merchandising programs. She also spent four years as Vice President at the Education Management Corporation. Through her vast experience, Lisa gained the insights and experience to lead marketing, sales, and P&L responsibilities at one of Canada’s most promising new e-commerce businesses of 2011, Rent frock Repeat.

As the CEO and Co-founder, Lisa relished the opportunity to marry her love of fashion with her extensive business experience into a dream-turned-reality. A determined and savvy businesswoman, Lisa is devoted to ensuring women across Canada of any age, race, or economic status have the opportunity to enjoy luxury and look fabulous for their special occasions.

Erin Hershberg
Erin Hershberg currently helms the leading Canadian online lifestyle publication, TORO Magazine. Ms. Hershberg is a passionate editor with a keen sense of art and fashion and fervor for all things beautiful. She has contributed to a variety of publications, including Toronto.com, Cinemascope Magazine, martiniboys.com., The McGill Press, Elle Canada and The Globe and Mail.

Jacqueline Parrish

Heading up ANOKHI's fashion section with an inimitable panache, Parrish is immersed in every facet of the industry from design and styling to runway reporting and creative direction. When she's not attending Fashion Week and various other industry-related events, she can be found traipsing around Toronto in fabulous leathers, feathers, furs and platforms, volunteering at charity events and checking out the city’s nightlife scene.

Michelle Bilodeau

A magazine editor for the past 13 years, Michelle Bilodeau is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor, focussing on fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Bilodeau, who currently runs Frontrowmag.com with partner Rachelle Saevil, has worked at Flare and Fashion magazines, and has had work published on Chatelaine.com, in Cosmetics magazine, and more. Michelle and Rachelle are also featured stylists on New.Music.Live on MuchMusic.

Albert Yuen

Designer and winner of the "Most Promising Designer" at the 2011 Art of Fashion Design Competition, Albert came to Canada and studied Fine Arts at the University of Waterloo. In 1992 he moved to Toronto to continue his studies in Apparel Design at Ryerson Polytechnic University. Working as an Assistant Designer at a leather goods company, Albert has also paticipated in the America's Next Top Model Trade Show and sponsored and judged the A1 Radio Toronto Cover Girl event over the past year.

Norwayne Anderson

Owner of Toronto's renowned Norwayne Anderson Management Inc., Norwayne possesses an eye for talent and "discovers the new faces of the future". Anderson has been apart of the fashion industry for over 20 years and has worked with some of the top leaders and driving forces behind fashion design, advertisment and print. Anderson has discovered models who have made a name and become "the face" of major brands worldwide. As the Founder of NAM Models, Norwayne is thrilled to be a part of the the journey that is Art of Fashion.

Mikhail Moudrakvoski
	Born of Siberian Russia decent, Mikhail Moudrakovski relocated to Canada in 1992. After experimenting with dance and music he began creating clothing. An early collection was shown in 2006, which has grown to five. Mikhail is currently a freelance designer and holds a degree from the Ryerson school of Fashion.

Franco Mirabelli

With three corporate stores in Toronto, Canada, and an ever-growing wholesale business that spans the United States and Canada, Franco Mirabelli continues to distinguish himself as one of Canada's strongest fashion talents.

After studying design at the prestigious American school Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Franco was tapped by the Anne Klein Company as a design assistant. After several years of training with Donna Karan and Lous Dell'Olio, Franco returned to his hometown and launched the FRANCO MIRABELLI collection.

Mirabelli's ready-to-wear sportswear collection is designed and manufactured in Toronto, where he owns three retail boutiques called MIRABELLI. The line wholesales across Canada to the country's finest boutiques, and a thriving demand for the line has landed his label in shops across the U.S. and in premiere department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.

Pheinixx

With 18 years of experience, Pheinixx specializes in composing the artistic and graphic look of a brand: and has worked with such international brands as Julien Macdonald, Gianfranco Ferré and Roberto Cavalli, and here in Canada with NADA, Bamboo Magazine and Warner Bros. Music.

As the daughter of a painter and fashion designer, Pheinixx grew up with a pencil or camera in her hand at all times. She studied design and advertising where she won awards for media, copy writing and art direction: Pheinixx was also one of the finalists in Marketing Magazine’s Creative Face Off of 2009.

Pheinixx has lectured for the North American Design Exchange, taught graphic design for the International Academy of Design, and is a frequent guest speaker and panelist to both students and professionals. Pheinixx, the current Creative Director at Pencil was voted the Regional Director for Fashion Group International for 2008 & 2009, and she currently donates her time as the Creative Branding Mentor at the Toronto Fashion Incubator.

Marie Saint Pierre

Marie Saint Pierre, a leader in the Canadian fashion scene for the past 25 years, remains at the top of her game as one of the industry's most influential fashion designers. Before her 10-year mark as a top Canadian Designer, Marie Saint Pierre had shown her collections on the Parisian Runways as well as under the tents of Bryant Park, showcasing her talent at New York Fashion Week. Proposing avant-garde design, Saint Pierre has always offered her very personal vision of fashion for a woman that desires intelligent clothing, innovative aesthetic and functionalility. Her attention to detail and her endless quest for excellence has pushed her to create clothes, accessories, home furniture and fragrances that have a strong identity and are recognizable.

Throughout her career, Saint Pierre has received numerous prices and awards for her creations, her entrepreneurial spirit, and her engagement in her communithy. She takes social issues to heart, focussing on causes that support the well being of women and children. In 2004, the "Sous Zero" fund was created, not only to provide new and warm clothing for 42, 000 chldren, but also to support their self-esteem. Saint Pierre is a member of the Quebec Order and most recently became a member of the Canadian Order.

Brent Weisgerber

As a Buyer for Men’s Premium Denim and Advanced Contemporary brands at The Bay, Brent is responsible for brands such as: AG Jeans, APC, G-Star, Diesel, J Brand, Nudie, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Saturday Surf, Seven for All Mankind and many more. Brent first honed his design and communication skills at Ryerson University where he graduated from the School of Fashion in 2006. He then went on to pursue a buying career at Holt Renfrew where is supported Men’s Contemporary and Modern Sportswear department.