THE FUTURE OF FASHION IS DIVERSE AND IT SHOWED DURING STARTUP FASHION WEEK
By: Erica Commisso
At Startup Fashion Week in Toronto, there really was something for everyone, and someone representing everyone. From empowering talks to what was shown on the runway, diversity took center-stage.
At the Business of Fashion Conference on April 15, Jessica Johnson discussed her brand Figiura, a brand that engineers bras specifically for people who have gotten implants. This opened up conversation around a demographic that had been widely overlooked.
Another hot topic was how AI plays a role at the intersection of fashion and diversity. Chris Dolinski discussed his company, BoughtLook, which uses AI to put actual consumers into outfits found online, allowing startup brands to reduce their costs and allowing shoppers of all shapes and sizes to see what outfits look like on their specific bodies before purchasing them.
Credit: Jim Orgill
Executive and former media mogul Klaudia Zinaty finished the conference by sharing her work with the Women Empowerment Awards and revealing the power it has to push female entrepreneurs into the spotlight and elevate their brands with financing and visibility.
Beyond discussions, emerging brands made statements on the runway; Aside from the actual designs, the overall statement of inclusivity was evident in the selection of models. Startup Fashion Week allows the designers to select their models from an open casting call, which allowed Designers to work with models who represent people who are of different shapes, heights, ages, ethnicities and genders.
Credit: @AlexanderJacobiPphotography
Talented, up-and-coming designers were given the platform to show off their work, and an overarching takeaway from Startup Fashion Week was clear: the future of fashion is diverse. It bucks industry trends for the better, shattering the ceiling for typically underrepresented communities in the fashion industry and forging a path that’s inclusive of everyone and better for the planet.
Credit: @Tonysphotos416
Couture knitwear brand Exergonic sent mature women and plus-sized women down the runway, while Ms. CarryOne showed off swim and resortwear on relatable women who fit their demographic in terms of ages and sizes. The show all came to life under the umbrella of the the event’s theme, “In Bloom,” which paid homage to growth and resilience within the fashion industry.
The designers who participated didn’t take the opportunity for granted. It is an opportunity to be seen and heard,” says Nicole Regan, whose brand Bad Kitty Kimono showcased a collection that represented internal strength and authenticity during the runway show. “At Startup Fashion Week Toronto, the brand moves beyond a marketplace to a stage where we can construct a visual universe rooted in gender fluidity and self-expression.”
Bad Kitty Kimono is not alone in its chance to share its message at Startup Fashion Week. The event, founded in 2014, has seen several brands like Meider Eporwei Bridal and the soon-to-be-launched brand Joey Cartz kickstart their relationships with the public, and with other industry insiders, at the week-long event. Startup Fashion Week has hosted events across Canada and launched the careers of several brands, but the message always remains the same: Fashion is not one size fits all. Style is diverse, and it deserves an industry that’s inclusive, representative, and conscious of its future. Just ask the models and designers on the runway.
Cover Image Credit: @AlexanderJacobiPhotography