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| Photo by Peter Jensen Photography |
Day 3 at Vancouver Fashion Week brought variety to the table. When you watch a lot of shows, that element of the unusual is important to keep one's focus sharp. London, Montreal, Vancouver, the U.S and Sweden all hit the runway to keep us on the edge of our seats. Today I have a short write-up on each of the 6 designers showcased.
Pure Elegance by Parna Ghose -
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| Photos by Peter Jensen Photography |
U. S. Designer Parna Ghose showcased her latest Fall 2012 collection of garments focused on South-Asian women. What is always appealing about this design aesthetic is that both bold colour and a subtle female sensuality are embraced in a big way. These are garments for women who are not afraid to be seen. Looks were from casual to high end and classic to contemporary. My favourite in this collection were the sarees in one inch black and white gingham with multicolour trim - no embellishments to distract from the cleaner lines. This brand offers Sarees, Suits, Kurtis, Lehengas, Blouses and jewellery through their online store at www.pure-elegance-boutique.com.
Angel Eye -
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| Photos by Peter Jensen Photography |
London based Angel Eye was launched in 2008. Their website describes the collection as "London-inspired vintage-printed fabrics and designs." In Canada this youthful label is represented by LK Collections. The focus this season was definitely more on short and flirty dresses in either bright, popping colours or well-selected prints. Most had softer silhouettes with gentle movement as the models walked. My personal favourite was the grey layered tunic with curved hem in the photo above (2nd from left). Definitely a look that would fit in well with Vancouver's west coast lifestyle and a style that could be worn by a wider age range than the short dresses.
Well-Groomed by Dave Singh -
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| Photos by Peter Jensen Photography |
Designer David Singh took the runway next with this latest collection called "Modern Meera." This Vancouver-based line is also focused on the South-Asian women and his collection featured lots of colour and pattern. The brand offers high quality Ethnic Indian garments - including bridal - along side Indo-western fusion pieces for the younger fashion conscious crowd. Shorter dresses had almost a 50's pin-up silhouette with fitted bodice and waist culminating in a flared skirt that swished as the models walked. While I am not sure I loved them paired with the bustier, my favourite separate was the black pants shown in the far right photo above.
Bano eeMee -
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| Photos by Dale Rollings |
Aleem Arif is the creative director behind Bano eeMee. The concept is Uptown Bohemian and the label is a nod to the women in his family - his mother and grandmother in particular. It was the first time this Calgary-based line has shown at VFW and we can only hope it will not be their last.
According to the website, "Bano eeMee designs are an edgy twist on a classic style that screams feminine elegance, casual sophistication and easy wear-ability...The issue of social consciousness is at the heart of Bano eeMee’s ethos. The brand promotes ethical realization of its designs with a focus on helping support the social fabric in communities ravaged by war, poverty and destitution through creating opportunities, paying fair wages and transferring knowledge." The palette was very autumn with pops of colour such as burgandy, turquoise and emerald. Although there were a few evening looks, the fall line is heavily focused on separates including a wide variety of capes, jackets and coats and that is where I think the strength of this season's offering lies.
Harricana Par Mariouche and Janet Theresa -
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| Photos by Dale Rollings |
This was a combined show featuring two stunning lines. Montreal designe
r Mariouche Gagné launched Haricana Par
Mariouche in 1994 and has never looked back. This is an eco-friendly line that works to re-use vintage fur and other materials so they find a new audience. "Recovering old fur, we have saved...the lives of over 600,000 animals. But we also helped reinvigorate more than 60,000 coats, silk scarves, shawls, wedding gowns...proving that fashion can also be "sustainable. And because...the ecology is at the heart of our concern, we make it a point of honor to produce each of our creations in Canada, under ethical manufacturing." The garments were warm, stylish and oh so Canadian at heart. All around could be heard the murmur of fashion-conscious viewers coveting various items. Harricana was paired with Victoria-based jewellery designer Janet Theresa whose work is described as "poetry for the body." Her dramatic, gallery pieces were 3-D sculptures that rose sometimes 3 inches from the model's hands. Not for the feint of heart, the rings in particular were eye-catching works of art. For more information contact Martine Beausoleil at martinebagency@gmail.com.
Jenny Grettve -
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| Photos by Dale Rollings |
Swedish designer Jenny Grettve brought a European flair to end this evening. Originally she wanted to be a classical pianist, but ended up with a Master's in Architecture. When looking at this collection, the silhouettes were no doubt infused with an architectural influence. There was also a dichotomy to the line's aesthetic. The white, gray and black pallette along with the shapes themselves gave the garments a strong, almost austere feel. And yet when you look at the construction, actual silhouettes and fabric choices there is also a softness to be found. Overall, I think the textured grey jersey pieces will prove the most wearable in the Vancouver market. There was one white dress I particularly enjoyed as it had a black, inkblot style print down the centre back reminiscent of a spinal chord. I found myself wishing the same pattern had been repeated on the front. This is a relatively new designer on the scene who only launched her first collection in April 2010. I am looking forward to see how she matures over the next few years.
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