Without the kind of support available in places like New York, Paris and Milan, it can be a steep uphill battle for Canada’s fashion talent to realize their dreams. In 1998, Michelle Planche, President of Paradigm Events, had a vision to level the playing field for Canadian designers, and created Art of Fashion.
As an award winning not-for-profit organization, that vision still holds true today, where Art of Fashion strives to be the catalyst that sparks a career in fashion.
Since 1998 the Art of Fashion has helped hundreds of designers across Canada reach consumers, media and the fashion industry. Art of Fashion was the Winner of the 2008 and Nominee of the 2009 Best Public Entertainment Award by the Canadian Special Events Industry Awards.
Committed to championing high-quality Canadian fashion and fostering the careers of emerging apparel and accessory designers, Art of Fashion created two unique opportunities for designers to showcase their talent and creations:
Design Competition
Designers are challenged to create an exclusive collection based on their interpretation of the annual theme. A panel of industry judges, along with the general public, select and award two designers with a monetary grant to help launch their career in fashion.
Designer Boutique
Provides Canadian apparel and accessory designers with a venue to sell their collections and gain exposure. Fashion buyers and local media are invited to attend a VIP Reception where they can meet with each designer for an intimate look at their collection.