Vancouver Fashion Week has come a long way since its first presentation in 2001 and, with the demise of Toronto Fashion Week, it’s now the only major bi-annual Canadian fashion event. It’s also the second largest North American fashion week (after New York) and the runway shows are open to the public, offering another reason to visit Vancouver. Bringing together both emerging and established designers, this month, the well-produced showcase of more than 40 Canadian and international brands was attended by industry professionals, members of the public, and government officials including Lana Popham, the British Columbia Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. Support from outside the industry is strong too, with sponsorship of international companies like luxury cars Jaguar and revolutionary makeup brand Bully Blocker. Canadian designers shone, alongside international designers from France, UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, United States, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Ondia, China, Taiwan and the Ukraine. From a very strong showcase, here’s a selection of the highlights, in no particular order.
