This season the five-day Toronto Fashion Week, which debuted under its lengthy new name, World MasterCard Fashion Week, on March 12, saw new sponsors and additional seating for guests in David Pecaut Square. Responding to criticism last year, the Fashion Design Council of Canada installed a larger tent equipped with two entrances and larger hallways to shorten the lines.
Sponsor Korhani kicked off Fashion Week last Monday with three collections made from the home decor company's latest rugs, and the Dare to Wear Love fund-raiser was the finale on Friday. Here's a look at some of the week's highlights.
Designer Adrian Wu filled the Studio at World MasterCard Fashion Week with playful balloon trees. Models walked the runway—a path of green Astroturf—wearing theatrical dresses and masks from the movie V for Vendetta.
Photo: George Pimentel
Fashion Week sponsor and home decor company Korhani opened Toronto Fashion Week and, for the third year in a row, created clothing from its latest rug collection. Colourful images served as the backdrop.
Photo: George Pimentel
Korhani showed three collections that used three sources of inspiration: Mongolia, punk, and Venice. Models walking in punk looks carried tiny piglets, to the delight of the audience.
Photo: George Pimentel
Inspired by Venice and Carnival, models wore ornate patterns and masks for Korhani's third collection.
Photo: George Pimentel
To open the Triarchy show in the Studio, three models walked out in their underwear before pulling on a pair of jeans from a large pile on the runway.
Photo: George Pimentel
Pavoni closed its show with an ornate gown. The backdrop was designed to look like a mansion's grand foyer and added to the collection of elegant eveningwear.
Photo: George Pimentel
As part of last year's Mercedes-Benz start-up competition, label Martin Lim won a spot at this season's Fashion Week. The show opened with a video presentation.
Photo: George Pimentel
Local label Bustle drew its inspiration from the Calgary Stampede, which marks its centennial year this July. Wooden fences, bales of hay, and a covered wagon set the stage. A female model opened the show for the menswear label.
Photo: George Pimentel
Greta Constantine's sister label, Ezra Constantine, made its Fashion Week debut on Thursday.
Photo: George Pimentel
The collection from Chloe Comme Parris had a decidedly tough look, inspired by the 1920s. Candelabras and unlit candles acted as a backdrop.
Photo: George Pimentel
Toronto Fashion Week ended with the Dare to Wear Love show, which saw 25 designers each create looks from six yards of African fabric. Local personalities like Dina Pugliese of Breakfast Television (pictured) walked the runway at the event, which raised funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Photo: George Pimentel
Guests cheered during the high-energy Dare to Wear Love show when W.W.E. wrestler and fitness model Trish Stratus picked up an unsuspecting guest from the front-row and carried him down the runway.
Photo: George Pimentel
