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A large, airy atrium in Toronto’s East End is buzzing with a rather unlikely assemblage of attendees. Wearing structured corset dresses, exaggerated power shoulders and confections of gauzy lace, the guests in this space strike a stark contrast to the minimal high-rise setting. The reason for this delicious display of people-watching? It’s the opening night of Fashion Art Toronto’s Spring 2025 season. The annual runway event, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, is renowned for being the city’s longest-running fashion week and reliably spotlighting talented Canadian designers. This year, the showcase—running until June 1—boasts 40+ runway shows, interactive art installations and pop-up boutiques by local brands. To celebrate the two-decade milestone, FASHION partnered with FAT to present the May 30 opening show: Unfiltered—A Raw Runway Experience. For the occasion, the aforementioned atrium has been transformed into a runway. Chairs are carefully lined to form a zig-zagging catwalk. On one end, photographers are gathered with cameras in hand. On another, volunteers dressed in black stand with clipboards and headsets. Then, the music comes on, the crowd quiets and models begin to saunter out. The FASHION x FAT runway, with curation by creative and fashion director George Antonopoulos and publisher Deidre Marinelli, features the work of four up-and-coming brands. All presented in seamless succession, the individual lines convey distinct designer visions while capturing a cohesive essence of elevated artistry. First is Offtn Studios, which immediately garners onlookers’ attention with its elegant take on avant-garde evening wear. Classic column silhouettes are reimaged with geometric shapes, rounded bustles and layered belts. Standout accessories—like a floppy statement chapeau and a trailing thin scarf—anchor the collection’s ethereal feel with a sense of intention. Next is Sons of Man, whose collection is inspired by movement, looseness and the idea of floating. The pieces reimagine menswear, via button-downs with supple ruched draping, collared sleeves with bloated bell silhouettes and asymmetrical light-as-air skirts. The billowy materials are reminiscent of parachutes, playing with volume and distorting traditional notions of corporate clothing. Following this comes another play on archetypes courtesy of Abo Project. The dreamy line reworks staples of everyday dressing—denim and sportswear—through unexpected pairings. Jean shorts are softened with lacy details, and jerseys are tightened with delicate ruffles. Seemingly opposing aesthetic ideals—like romantic bloomers and football-player shoulder pads—are paired together with clever cohesion. Last comes Haven Liu, whose collection “Insomnia” whisks the audience into a kooky dollhouse dreamland. From a structured sack dress with organic textures to Victorian-inspired ruffs with dramatically gathered sleeves, the ensembles tap into playful, boundless surrealism. With models carrying pillows and duvets, there is a clear reference to rest. All in all, it’s a perfectly apt way to close out the show. When the runway ends, the style-minded crowd—serving its own smorgasbord of self-expression—is livelier than ever. Armed with fresh artistic inspiration and the Summer Issue of FASHION, attendees make their way upstairs for the rest of the opening-night festivities. Heading into FAT, the excitement is palpable. And as everyone here knows, that’s what a good outfit does. Continue Reading
