We enlisted the help of Toronto’s foremost fashion maven, Jeanne Beker, to give us her thoughts on local fashion innovators from around city. These daring designers are defying the odds by making clothing right here in Toronto. Herewith, a few words on what they do best (because you probably want to get to know a few of them, right?).
Meet Roots’ newest it girl — Bayview’s Amanda Lew Kee
Not long ago, Canadian leather goods stalwart Roots offered 24-year-old budding design phenom Amanda Lew Kee a tantalizing collaboration opportunity she couldn’t resist. The unorthodox staging of Lew Kee’s spring/summer 2013 collection — she paired outfits with cocktails and courses at the West Queen West restaurant Ursa — impressed Roots co-founder Michael Budman, who was curious to see what Lew Kee could do with Roots’ resources at her disposal.
The young designer looked to her Bayview upbringing for inspiration. “Men’s sweats were a big hit for the girls [at York Mills Collegiate Institute], but mainly as a borrowed-from- the-boyfriend look,which made sense on a comfort level,”says Lew Kee, whose collab, Canadian Born Natural Luxury, was inspired by the iconic Roots salt-and-pepper sweats. Along with sweats that have been urbanized with stitch creases and luxe hardware details, the joint effort also features Lew Kee’s trademark fitted leather jackets. — Caroline Aksich
Jeanne says: Her current collaboration with Roots is impressive, and she really understands how to translate edge in subtle, wearable ways.
This one’s right on target — North Toronto’s Sarah Stevenson
Sarah Stevenson’s Dutch still life–inspired collection wowed judges last April at the Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels competition. Delicate floral prints were given edge when juxtaposed with laser-cut wools and sheer fabrics. The layering alone would’ve created a dramatic runway, but by restricting the collection to a tricolour palette (black, red, white), the runway sizzled with a vampish seductiveness. And the seduction must’ve worked because Stevenson won a $25,000 prize and a contract to create a limited edition Target collection that will be sold across Canada come spring.
We’re totally hyped to snatch up some of Stevenson’s bucolic-printed pieces, though we don’t expect the retail giant to carry the silks that the North Toronto–raised designer is known for using. Stevenson, who has a master’s degree in fashion and textile design, creates her own textiles, many of which are based on hand-drawn illustrations that she then digitally prints onto natural fabrics. — CA
Jeanne says: The dramatic graphics she concocts take her simple silhouettes to inspiring heights, and she manages to walk the line between art and nature with aplomb.
