By Rose de Paulsen, Vivienne Poy (photo from Covenant House) Canada is known for diverse and empowered women. Vivienne May Poy (née Lee) made waves when she was appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1998 by Jean Chretien. This is where she did her most notable, influential and groundbreaking work. Her motion for May to be…
Tag: Canadian Fashion History
Forever Elegant: Yasmeen Ghauri’s Stamp on the Canadian Modelling Industry
By Olivia Belande, Ethereal and romantic in stature, Yasmeen Ghauri is a Canadian-born supermodel of Pakistani and German heritage who quickly swept the nation and helped to diversify the national modelling industry. The supermodel was discovered in 1988 at the age of 17, while working in a Montreal based Macdonald’s location. Quickly thereafter, Ghauri became the face of Chanel, Christian Dior, Jil Sander,…
D’Arcy Moses
By Dr. Mark Joseph O’Connell, The SFRC has a dress by Canadian fashion designer D’Arcy Moses in the collection. The garment is a fascinating juxtaposition of traditional First Nations iconography as well as contemporary non-Indigenous cultural influences and can be read like a text though object-based research. Intricately beaded and adorned, it contains iconographic elements of the South Slavey…
Greta Constantine, Canadian Designers
By Anna Ludmirsky, The remarkable duo Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, founders of the ready-to-wear womenswear brand Greta Constantine have gone above and beyond when it comes to achievements throughout their careers. Since starting their brand in 2006 in Toronto, Canada, they have come a long way to the level they are on now. The…
The Game-Changer Pant – IZ Adaptive
By Anna Ludmirsky, Able-bodied people do not often think about the construction of clothing taking a toll on their daily lives. The fashion industry also often does not consider the many disabilities that need catering to that do not have many options when buying clothes, be it from people with sensory issues, people with Alzheimer’s, and wheelchair-bound people. Although there are countless…
Ève Salvail, Canadian Supermodel
By Rose de Paulsen, Supermodel Ève Salvail is a world renowned Canadian model, artist, designer, and disc jockey. Jean Paul Gaultier helped bring the model into the mainstream. Her unique look and punk attitude made it impossible not to be mesmerized. She worked with the likes of Moschino, Karl Lagerfeld, and Versace. Salvail is also known as DJ Evalicious, and has found passion in becoming a celebrity DJ (a successful one at that). Not to…
Hoax Couture, Canadian Designers
By Rose de Paulsen, Hoax Couture is a Toronto based team with over 35 years of experience of garment creation for all genders. The team is co-led by Chris Tyrell and Jim Searle. Both specialized in bespoke and custom garments ranging from menswear to bridal to childrenswear. Hoax Couture is one of the only companies in Toronto to create custom garments from drawings/photos brought in…
Angela DeMontigny Turns Heads With Fabulous Indigenous Inspired Wearables
By Olivia Belande, Angela DeMontigny is a Canadian designer who is of Cree-Métis descent. She is most known for her stunning “Indigenous luxury” pieces, wearables that feature beaded motifs, hand painted details, leather and suede. Her breakout into the Canadian fashion industry was so incredibly important, because as we know, the voices of Indigenous creators have been…
Virtual Visits During the COVID Pandemic
By Dale Peers, While the COVID pandemic has restricted movement and closed many doors it has also spurred the opening of many others. Museum exhibitions that might have been difficult if not impossible to attend are now available through virtual visits. Here are just a few that you might enjoy. Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams…
The New Roaring Twenties
by Dale Peers, Here we come! The first 12 months of this new decade have certainly been tumultuous. And, I wonder whether that means we are at just the beginning of another Roaring Twenties. The pandemic has been an event of global proportions not unlike the first World War. The “war to end all wars”…