TORONTO – While many designers centre each new collection on a particular theme or inspiration, Michael Thomas Balint remains focus on staying the course with a brand esthetic he describes as “romantic and stoic.”
The Toronto-based designer behind the label Thomas Balint said most of his sales are in Europe. He has been showing in Paris for the past three seasons and is preparing for a return in January, heading to a showroom in the fashion capital.
In the meantime, Balint unveiled his latest collection at Toronto’s World MasterCard Fashion Week on Tuesday. In a range that included an array of garments from suits to dresses, Balint made use of tried-and-true fabrics such as a bold, stripe-patterned jacquard as well as raw silk.
“Things that look a little bit aged already and things that have texture really appeal to me,” he said backstage following the show.
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Despite the challenges of running his label in the city, Balint continues to forge ahead, drawing inspiration from his grandmother who emigrated from Hungary.
“She came here and she had nothing,” Balint recalled. “She didn’t speak the language, she didn’t do anything, so all she did was sew. And she worked with a tailor here for her whole career and that’s where my inspiration comes from – from the hard work of that amazing woman.”
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