FAT 2012 KICKS OFF WITH AN EXPLORATION OF LANDSCAPES
A design by Mitra Ghavamian
Story by Rebecca Poynton-Murray
Photo by Jason Hargrove
Almost a month after watching subdued autumnal clothes make their way down Toronto fashion week’s runway, “alternative” fashion week Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) painted a bold and colorful visage down the catwalk on Tuesday evening.
Now in its seventh year, FAT celebrated their first night with an installation art space, photography, and fashion collections based on natural aesthetics and ‘LANDscapes’. The scene stealer of the runway presentations was without a doubt Karey Shinn’s opening collection comprised of all things earth, sun and sea, combining soft leather, tulip bud dresses and a shimmering satin blue cocktail dress. Set against a hard hip-hop soundtrack and featuring two fully cloaked men in gas masks, this show without a doubt rocked the runway.
Young designer Jade Sullivan-Vallentyne presented a more casual look in soft leather jackets and skinny jeans, each item very wearable and embellished with tribal accents.
Armour By Seema was also a loveable collection of summer-ready floral city shorts and dresses, each with their own individual leather corset or belt to represent the armour theme.
Further on in the evening saw designer Mitra Ghavamian casting ballet dancers and models pretending to walk exhausted in the desert heat in order to bring her collection to life.
Continuing from this preliminary show of how to mix fashion with artistic choreography, Bloom Asphyxia ended their presentation with the choreographed tearing of a model’s dress in order to reveal a new one underneath, covered in fresh flowers.
With every collection using different materials, colours and stage presence, it truly was a refreshing and entertaining combination of Fashion and Art in Toronto.
For the full FAT schedule of events, head over to their website.
