Hannah Yakobi is an award-winning journalist and communications specialist. Throughout her career, she has written for the National Post, OK! Magazine, the Ottawa Citizen, Canwest newspaper network and dozens of publications around the world. Currently, she is the Editor-in-Chief of FAJO Magazine, a Canadian publication with staff in Canada, U.S. and U.K.
|FAT| Arts & Fashion Week has now wrapped up in Toronto, and what a whirlwind it was!
I am always astounded by the creativity, energy and enthusiasm of Canadian designers, and the runway presentations at |FAT| were no exception: the collections ranged from ethnic influences to latex corsets and futuristic 50s-inspired glamour.
|FAT| has greatly expanded this year. The venue at 213 Sterling Rd. was a good choice for this event – it was much larger than the venue last year and accommodated about twice as many reporters, photographers, bloggers, make-up artists, designers and other guests, not just from Toronto and Canada but from around the world. There was no such thing as not being engaged here; at one point I was chatting with a photographer who freelances for a French photo agency, next I was analyzing film presentations by German filmmakers screened above the catwalk and, shortly afterwards, I was immersing myself in the runway shows by designers from around the globe.
There was much to enjoy and absorb. Upon entering, guests were able to mingle at the bar, browse through the art installations on display, and head to the catwalk that was housed in a massive warehouse-style room. The crowd was very jolly and enthusiastic. Whenever there was a collection that the audience particularly enjoyed, they would cheer on, and applaud the most energetic models on the runway.
I think that at a show like |FAT| it is very difficult to find specific trends that resonate throughout the week. Instead, the designers celebrate the diversity of their work and showcase pieces that reflect their own vision.
However, most of the reporters I spoke to at the event agreed that many collections greatly embedded an artistic touch. Geometric shapes were particularly popular, and there were also designers who experimented with various fabrics, or embedded sculpturesque pieces on top of the clothing.
Another aspect that I noticed – certainly strongly present in many collections – was the choice of black colour. This was an interesting phenomenon, as most people in the fashion industry know that black is commonly worn by designers, stylists and other creative folk. In fact, for some, it has become a part of their branding staple and, indeed, their signature look. This theme ran strongly throughout many shows and, as a result, greatly shifted the focus on designers’ craftsmanship and their ability to utilize fabrics to their advantage.
As always, |FAT| was an inspiration this year. I am greatly looking forward to see what the next year brings.
Photos courtesy Fajo Magazine