Fashion Art Toronto Highlights: Spring/Summer Runway
As April drew to a close, Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) returned to the city with its incredible multi-arts fashion week. As Toronto’s longest-running event of this kind, FAT’s comeback for the Spring/Summer season unveiled a plethora of new collections from 50 of Canada’s most prominent and rising designers. Keep scrolling for our highlights.
ANNAFORA
Looks from ANNAFORA at FAT Spring/Summer 2023
ANNAFORA graced day one with its debut FAT appearance. As one of four designers presenting as part of the Black Designers of Canada showcase, creator and designer Maida Ghide brought its embodiment of fine African craftsmanship to the runway with captivating garments in an array of flowing silhouettes, monochromatic palettes and intriguing textures. ANNAFORA works to spotlight the beauty in ethnicity, which was on full display at FAT.
L’Uomo Strano
Looks from L’Uomo Strano at FAT Spring/Summer 2023
Representing the best of gender non-conforming fashion at FAT, Toronto-based L’Uomo Strano brought a fluid party that had the audience going wild. Filled with avant-garde silhouettes, L’Uomo Strano took to the runway on day three with innovative looks celebrating self expression. Founder Mic. Carter’s distinctive progressive edge was taken to new levels with looks oozing sexuality, storytelling and self-love. We have to also shout out some of the best makeup looks of the weekend, courtesy of makeup director Paola Ortiz.
Lesley Hampton
Looks from Lesley Hampton FAT Spring/Summer 2023
As one of Canada’s most renowned brands today, Lesley Hampton has carved a name for herself in the fashion sphere, and her FAT S/S 2023 show certainly did not disappoint. Hampton founded the self-titled brand in 2016 to decolonize the fashion industry from its euro-centric ideals. Her “Buoyant 2023 collection”, a collaborative showcase with fellow Indigenous retailer Aaniin, did just that with a combination of elevated casual pieces and complex evening looks seamlessly integrating Indigenous design styles.
NARCES
Looks from NARCES at FAT Spring/Summer 2023
NARCES took FAT by storm with its signature romantic glamour. The iconic Canadian brand, renowned for its evening wear, cocktail and bridal creations, displayed a sparkling line of vibrant and intricate jumpsuits and crystal gowns that had the audience ready to sashay to a soirée. Designer and creative director Nikki Wirthensohn Yassemi’s distinctive design style of combining modern twists to elegant classic mid-twentieth-century silhouettes was in full force this season.
Want more runway? Read our Paris Haute Couture Week Spring ‘23 roundup.
Carolina Pucciarelli is a Glossi Mag contributor.
In her final year of journalism school at Toronto Metropolitan University, Carolina loves Octavia Butler novels, Guillermo del Toro movies and a good skincare regimen.
