Toronto’s longest running fashion showcase, 1664 Fashion Week hosted by Fashion Art Toronto (FAT), took place this past weekend at T3 Bayside, drawing the city’s most fashionable into one space. Top designers from across the country — including Lesley Hampton, NARCES and L’Uomo Strano — showcased their latest collections on the runway, and attendees ranging from influencers to creatives to Raptors dressed their best for the occasion. A palpable buzz was in the air as attendees celebrated the organization’s 20th anniversary milestone, one which has seen fashion director and Toronto icon Vanja Vasic build the showcase from the ground up — evolving from guerilla style street shows through various Toronto venues, including The Distillery District, to its most recent iteration at the sky-high waterside venue that FAT adopted last fall.
The consensus among attendees both new and seasoned is that FAT has always been a space for people to express themselves, whether that means aiming for best dressed, or donning their most outlandish clothes. It’s home to a community that many consider family — one that is always enthusiastic about the arts and never judgmental.
“Though we’re really small, unlike other fashion weeks, like New York or Paris, we’re really tight knit,” says Hillz, an attendee who explains they’re presently experimenting with their style. “We’re not too serious, yet we’re very professional about it. It’s a loving and caring community, everyone is loud and expressive and it gives a space for everyone to be seen.”
For many fashion week guests, seeing FAT reach 20 years is a testament to how needed an event like this is in the city.
“They have really opened doors for many diverse models, designers and fashion professionals who use fashion as a way to find a safe space. And that’s what FAT has been doing for 20 years — making safe spaces,” says Armando Perla, artistic director and chief curator at the Textile Museum of Canada.
Fashion Art Toronto, arguably more so than even the top fashion weeks globally, is a place for those off the runway to go big, bold and experimental with their own looks.
“We just saw the show, but then we get a second fashion show when everyone walks out. I love seeing what Toronto is wearing, what Canada is wearing,” stylist Tess St. Pierre says of her experience at FAT.
While the crowd bestowed compliments upon compliments onto each other’s looks, Streets of Toronto rounded up 20 of the most stylish attendees to document their outfits, and learn about what FAT means to them.
Litta: “I’m a designer, I’m wearing my own clothes. This is my newest collection. It’s called Urban guardians, it’s inspired by Sailor Moon. This is my more elevated evening wear/streetwear mashup. I’m wearing it out today, first time off the runway.
Mariana: “I’m wearing this old lady in Brazil, where I’m from. She sews so I sent her a picture from Pinterest, and then she just made it. It was a dress, but she made it into a skirt and a corset, and then I put this little buffista on top.”
Victoria: “Haley is wearing my masterpiece. It’s inspired by human anatomy and surealiism. It’s made out of second-hand yarns and threads collected over the past two years. I used a technique using a water soluble stabalizer that is a messy fabric that dissolves with fabric, so you can construct something new by stitching on top of it. It’s a newer sustainable way of creating textiles out of already exhsiting scrap material. My outfit is 100 per cent thrifted — I bought my pants in a flea market in Berlin, I took the sleeves off my shirt because I like how masculine it looks.”
Ronald: “I’m wearing a peacock-feather rebozo by Mexican designer Lesly la Niña de los Rebozos (@lesly_la_nina_de_los_rebozos).” Armando: “I’m wearing a rainbow pleated skirt by Lesley Hampton, leather corset, opera gloves and harness by Northbound Leather (@northbound.leather), Pom-pom necklace from @tonton.espacio_cultural in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas and earrings also from Chiapas.”
“I’m wearing one of my friend’s pieces, with a little hint of my own creativity. I have just started a little brand to make my own accessories. @omg.thatssick on Instagram.”
“I’m wearing a custom piece that I made with my seamstress. I wanted to experiment with playing with fabrics and choosing buttons. For the first time I was like, ‘Tedy, you’re allowed to wear colour, you’re allowed to stand out.’ And that was crazy for me, because I never would have imagined that I’d be wearing an outfit like this outside.”
“I’m wearing vintage leather biker overalls, a Zara fringe cape, my Labubu of course — the best accessory ever — and MAC cosmetics on my face.”
Designer Litta Xandr enjoyed seeing so many incredible Canadian designers walk the runway, including Lesley Hampton, L’Uomo Strano, reclaimed textile brand Sagradesa and Toronto’s Mario Fugnitto on day one.
“For me, it’s very important to elevate Canadian artists here, especially in Toronto. Having it run for 20 years is very special,” she says. “It’s very heartwarming to see that there is an audience for it here in our city, and that it’s forever growing, potentially even internationally. I think it’s important to bring up the arts and have people in these fields come out and show their creativity.”
Xandr’s friend Mariana Campos noted that, from the perspective of someone who isn’t in the fashion industry here, “it’s so amazing to be able to get closer to high couture, like what you see in like Paris or Milan, in our own city.”
For attendee Elise Tremblay, FAT is more than just a fashion show. “This community is my family, my people. Coming here and seeing people who look like me and fit my vibe is my favourite thing in the world. I work in the beauty industry and beauty and fashion always come together in such a beautiful way. I love to see how people express that.”
“I’m wearing my own design (@h.y.l.a_) and fish sandals because I couldn’t not.”
“I’m wearing a shirt from Carpe Diem, he’s one of the original founders of Chrome Hearts, but then went off to make his own leather goods line. My undershirt is Julius. My pants are made by a 16-year-old creative in Toronto named Henry Schatzker (@goatskn), longtime friend. And my boots are Guidi.”
Kouvr: L: “I kind of went for a Victorian child vibe. I’m wearing Free People pants with some Urban Outfitters tights underneath and some Prada flats. And then on top, I’m wearing this lovely shirt from Lady Indigo Vintage.”
Mert: “My outfit is a little more street. I’m wearing loafers that I just got from a trip in Turkey, and I’m wearing my jorts to show off tattoos that I just got that my friend did.”
“I’m wearing mostly vintage or reclaimed pieces. The idea is to highlight the reclamation of our land. So I have my missing or murdered Indigenous women’s tattoo and my keffiyeh, symbolizing the idea that even in fashion spaces, it’s important for us to honour reclamation.”
“I’m wearing a Waratah Avenue gown. She’s an Australian bisexual designer. The bag is Edte (@edtestudio), by Michael Usling.”
“I’m wearing a white blouse from Winners, bedazzled boots from Winners, a thrifted hat and a denim dress from Bluenotes. And these bangles are from the Philippines. So pretty affordable outfit — the mug is more of the look today.”
Day two featured a special accessories showcase with three emerging Montreal designers, as well as Toronto designer Neechi by Nature’s runway show and a sustainable hand-dyed collection by Wong Kwok Shing.
For model Surudge Mistry, FAT reflects their perception of Canadian fashion as a whole. “I’ve been in the community for just a few years and it’s surrounded with such lovely people. The fact that its lasted for 20 years is fantastic, and it’s the exact energy that I see in fashion in Canada, so it means everything.”
Makeup artist Francine Padilla says the environment at FAT is unlike any other. “I’ve worked a lot of fashion shows, but I feel most respected and at home here. I recognize so many faces, and meet new people, and everyone’s so kind.”
“The headpiece is from Hamilton — Coral Earth Finery. The T-shirt is from my dear friend Dahlia Paul Lipson who owns Restyle Renew in Thornhill. Sasha sequin dress is by ÖFUURË and all this wool (bag and flower brooches) is Ontario-sourced by Ste.Marg.Scot.”
Tess: “I’m a Christian, and I really felt strongly because the theme this year is community, and what better way to show that than say ‘God loves community.’ Jesus actually hated religion and he loves relationship. So I really just wanted to make a piece that shows how he has an open invitation to anyone. That’s why this says, ‘How can I pray for you?’ And then some scripture on the back. So it’s really just a message of love from him to his people. It’s the first thing I’ve sewed since high school. My beloved husband and I spent about eight hours super gluing disco ball stickers to my prosthetic. A lot of people think that these things are cheap and anyone can afford them, but really, really nice looking prosthetics cost a lot of money, and they’re not accessible to everyone with disabilities, so I figured I would do what I could with a little DIY action.” Hillz: “I’m actually coming more into my style and my aesthetic, I would call it Circus Chic. It’s a combination of ’90s streetwear and a lot of cutesy and other sub genres. I also like pulling from other Black cultural aspects, so I often do Bantu knots, wear my natural hair out, and incorporate hair clips and other fun accessories to represent myself in a fun, whimsical way.”
Michael: “I went to Japan, and I felt very inspired. This is all Yohji Yamamoto.”
Hritik: “The inspo is Playboi Carti Opium Till I Die.”
“I’m wearing a thrifted handmade leather jacket, H&M skirt, Doc Martens with blue converse laces, and Halloween makeup to create a traditional goth makeup look.”
Lucia: “I wanted to do kind of a modern and alternative take on a corporate look.” Emily: “I’m wearing a lot of sheer layers.” Michelle: “This is the Our Lady of Guadalupe dress that I got from Blackbird studios in Hamilton.”
Sebastian: “I’m wearing my own work and Alexander McQueen.” Mason: “Mine is actually a surprise gift from one of my designer friends, House of Dwir. He knows my vibe is very Maleficent, evil queen, very witchy, very gothic. He knows I very much love a hood moment and something very villainous. So one of the fabrics that I was obsessed with, which is a waxed cotton, he turned it into this big, beautiful cowl tunic with a high waisted flare pant.” Calvin: “I’m wearing Raf Simons, who is now designing for Prada.”
Tia: “Simran and I are both wearing my own designs, OFFTN Studios.” Prerna: “I just thrifted everything.”
Tristan: “I’m wearing all Tailored Noise.”
Pixie: “I’m wearing Tailored Noise with IndooCat tights.”
Day three attendee, and first-time FAT-goer, Matt Foti was particularly impressed by the looks sported by those off the runway.
“Not only do you see these different fashion designers being able to express themselves, and the narratives they’re playing with, but you also see that in strangers, which you typically don’t encounter day to day walking on the street, because fashion at that level of honesty takes a degree of risk and earnestness,” he says. “It’s wonderful to be in an environment where people are not only allowed but encouraged to be genuine and honest to parts of themselves, and things that they’re experimenting with.”
