*Enter your info below to win a pair of tickets to the event.
Think it’s all about World MasterCard Fashion Week? Think again. Right now, it’s all about the gents.
The first annual Toronto Men’s Fashion Week goes down at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel from August 12th-14th.
Here’s why you need to check it out:
It’s run by Jeff Rustia.
If you know the Toronto fashion and event scene, you know Jeff Rustia.
As the Executive Director of TOM*, the well-known broadcaster and TV host comes armed with experience, having produced the hugely successful CPFW (Canada Philippine Fashion Week). “It’s time that menswear designers have their own platform and runway to showcase their innovation, creativity and talent here in Toronto,” he tells us. “Logistically, it doesn’t make sense to lump the men with the women because it is its own entity, it has its own set of buyers, editors, and audience.”
If you’ve seen his own wardrobe, you know he knows his stuff.
The designers.
TOM* will feature a curated selection of 20 established and up-and-coming designers.
This means headliners like Christopher Bates, Benji WZW, Pedram Karimi, Sons of Odin and HD Homme. The event will also feature top menswear brands and men’s shops in TOM* Presents. Other highlights will include Suits & Styles, featuring the latest in suit designs; The International Spotlight Series will showcase notable menswear designers from around the world, and the Avant Garde series will feature the collections of designers who are setting the course for modern men’s style. The $10,000 Emerging Menswear Designer Awards for designers with less than three years in business will happen on the closing night.
The models.
You won’t secretly hate the models.
Refreshingly, they were carefully selected via a casting call of over 120 models with an agenda to represent a variety of ages, nationalities and body types… because you know as well as we do that, like women, not all men have the same physique.
It’s for a good cause.
It’s not just about the fashion.
The MensFashion4Hope campaign fuses fashion with charity together through the Kol Hope Foundation for Children and SickKids Hospital. The foundation, the first of its kind in North America, provides support for children born with Trisomy-related disabilities and is named after Rustia’s son Kol, who was born with Trisomy 13, a fatal genetic syndrome. Kol was diagnosed to live only three months, but against all odds he lived for fourteen years. A celebrity fashion show presented by GOTSTYLE held during the week will support the foundation.
The party.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Toronto fashion event without an amazing party.
The Toronto Men’s Fashion Week Opening Night Party takes place at the Audi Downtown Toronto Showroom (328 Bayview Ave.) on Monday August 11th at 7pm. Naturally, the event will feature celebrities, designers, models, musical performances, guest DJs and the latest in luxury car design from Audi Downtown Toronto’s inventory, including the revolutionary TT and R8 models.
Basically, it’s the ultimate men’s Monday night out (but the ladies are welcome, too).
We have you covered.
Obviously, we have you covered.
We’re giving away 10 (that’s right) passes for the shows. *Just enter your name and guest’s name below and we’ll be in touch if you’ve won.
But, if you miss it, you can read all about it.
If you’re out of town, you can still get all your fashion insight via the TOM* magazine, a printed and digital version of all things men’s fashion. The Toronto magazine will feature interviews with designers, luminaries and celebrities, features from headlines and runway reports, street styles, and insider previews. It also showcases the best in men’s fashion, lifestyle, arts and culture.
Copies of TOM* Magazine will be available at Toronto Men’s Fashion Week and in the stores at Chapters and Indigo starting in September.
#NOTABLE
All images: from Toronto Men’s Fashion Week
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