LG Fashion Week's Two Runways Take on 40 Different Looks

April 7, 2011

LG Fashion Week took over Heritage Court at Exhibition Place last week for a five-day run. The event fit in a full 40 designers by starting runway shows earlier in the day than ever before, and by setting up two distinct runway spaces so there was less time between shows. Both runways were designed so that individual designers could match them to their shows by changing up the lighting, floor coverings, and other decor elements. The larger runway room seated 1,000 guests around a 1,000-foot runway, while the studio seated 350.

Additionally, several designers opted to show independently, hosting their own runway shows at different venues, ensuring there was something going on nearly everywhere you looked, from street dancers and sailor outfits to Samuel L. Jackson sightings and models wearing carpets.

Here's a look at how several designers made the runways their own.

Photo: Courtesy of Lucian Matis

LG Fashion Week sponsor Korhani Home staged a show on the main runway, featuring clothes cut from the company's Montreal-made carpets.

Photo: George Pimentel

The company's creative director, Kristen Korhani, outfitted models in bodysuits, capes, vests, and dresses, all made from Korhani rugs.

Photo: George Pimentel

Shan got the crowd in the main runway space thinking about summer by showing off their couture swimwear on the models walking the runway and those peering down from lifeguard chairs.

Photo: George Pimentel

Krane Design showed off its rugged menswear designs and "utilitarian manbags" in the studio space. As models walked down the runway, they grabbed bags and coats off of hooks suspended from the ceiling, while street dancers tossed the bags back and forth between moves.

Photo: George Pimentel

The rugged menswear look continued during the Bustle show, when the main runway was awash with dogsleds, axes, and plaid.

Photo: George Pimentel

At the Klaxon Howl show, military- and aviation-inspired garments were juxtaposed with stacked wooden crates, a full-size sail, and other rustic decor elements.

Photo: George Pimentel

Playing up the sailor theme, Klaxon Howl models posed with an anchor.

Photo: George Pimentel

New designer Choryin Choi showed his Cydelic by Choryin collection in the smaller studio space, lining the runway with moat planters designed by Seven Continents.

Photo: George Pimentel

The Basch by Brandon show had the runway swathed in green and purple tones to match the designer's new collection, while models played up the sexiness factor, strutting to tunes by Rihanna and Christina Aguilera.

Photo: George Pimentel

Designer and TV star Jay Manuel debuted his Attitude line for Sears Canada with help from former contestants on America's Next Top Model and Canada's Next Top Model, who strutted down a glossy black runway. The show opened with a mini montage about Manuel and his work projected onto an oversize screen.

Photo: George Pimentel

A marquee spelled out Lucian Matis's name in lights, and the crowd was seated on the wooden floor, right in the middle of the runway show.

Photo: Kyriakos

Among the spin-off shows taking place at other locations was one from Canadian designer Lucian Matis, who showed off his fall/winter 2011 collection at the Design Exchange building, in a show produced by Candice&Alison Luxury Event Management.

Photo: Kyriakos