Toronto’s next fashion festival is set to happen in Regent Park and this year, organizers are making it their mission to boost Canadian pride.
The annual Fashion Arts Toronto (FAT) exhibit will be opening its doors at Daniels Spectrum on Tuesday, April 21 until Saturday, April 25, for another year of themed fashion collections and a collection of art from local photographers, filmmakers and performers. To celebrate their tenth anniversary, this year’s theme – titled #MadeInCanada -- aims to bring the great north to the forefront of fashion.
The festival’s founder, Vanja Vasic, said the theme does not only work to celebrate Canadian culture, but also to instill pride in all of the Canadian designers involved.
“In the past ‘Made in Canada’ wasn’t something that was desirable,” Vasic said. “Canadian talent went elsewhere to become known and hid the fact that they were Canadian. We’re saying that it’s something to be proud of.”
The show’s theme is split into five subthemes dedicated to each festival day to explore Canada’s climate, environment and culture separately. “Cold North” and “Global Village” are two of the five sub-themes that over 60 designers and visual artists had to draw inspiration from for their pieces this year.
FAT has showcased more than 440 collections since its first exhibit in 2005. Vasic said the event still continues to do what she hoped it would ten years ago – Give Canadian alternative designers a platform to display their work to the world.
“I wanted to create a venue for fashion to be explored with no limitation, and give a social and global perspective platform for emerging designers,” Vasic said. “It’s a great feeling to know we’ve dedicated ten years to support talent.”
Twenty-four-year-old Victor Keita will be showcasing his first collection ever at FAT this year. The model-designer has walked on FAT’s runways every year since 2011, before starting his own collection almost a year-and-a-half ago.
His collection, vKEITA, is heavily inspired by his journey to Canada from war-torn Sierra Leone.
“My show will open with a video about me running away from war in Sierra Leone, leaving my mother, and grabbing some African fabric before I leave,” Keita said.
He describes the line as “African-influenced streetwear” with lot of prints, neckpieces and headpieces.
FAT founder Vasic said personal storytelling is a major part of what FAT is about.
“A huge part of what our festival is about is personal stories expressed through fashion,” Vasic said. “Victor has come from being a model to being inspired to make a collection, which is amazing.”
