TORONTO – Program supporting emerging Canadian designers expands for 2012
A Canadian program aimed at offering support to emerging homegrown designers is hitting the road in the search for up-and-coming talents.
The Mercedes-Benz Start Up program is aimed at providing a national platform to offer mentorship and counsel to young designers in efforts to arm them with the tools needed to build a successful, sustainable business.
This year’s cycle of the program begins in Edmonton from April 16 and 17. Events are planned in Halifax (May 10 and 11), Quebec City (June 4 and 5) and Ottawa (Aug. 13 and 14).
In each city, interviews will be held by an expert panel on the first day, with outstanding candidates invited to present their collections the following day at a seated runway show. The initial pool of applicants will be whittled down to 10 semi-finalists. The national final will be held in Toronto this October.
Montreal-based design duo Martin Lim took home the top prize in the inaugural contest last year. Husband-and-wife team Danielle Martin and Pao Lim will present their fall-winter collection at Fashion Week in Toronto in March.
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For more information, visit http://www.mercedes-benzstartup.com
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Jacob offers Hepburn-inspired glam with L’Atelier line
Jacob is channelling Audrey Hepburn with its new L’Atelier collection of evening dresses.
The Montreal-based retailer has unveiled a capsule collection of 10 styles inspired by the late screen star and style icon.
“My inspiration for this collection was Audrey Hepburn, an icon of sophistication whose personal style stimulated my minimalist vision for classically elegant gowns with subtle details that let the flattering cuts and lavish fabrics take centre stage,” said Jacob’s artistic director Normand Brouillette in a statement.
Brouillette is no stranger to creating red carpet-worthy wear, designing handmade gowns for the likes of Kim Cattrall and Angelina Jolie.
The L’Atelier collection features Canadian-made knee-length and floor-length styles, including cocktail numbers and gowns, fashioned from such fabrics as satin, chiffon, crepe and mesh.
“We created L’Atelier in response to growing demand from our customers for more sophisticated dresses to wear to weddings, galas and graduations, or for their bridesmaids,” Jacob style expert Cristelle Basmaji said in a release.
The limited-edition line ranges from $149 to $229 and is slated to hit stores on March 1.
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J. Crew reveals Canadian expansion plans
J. Crew is heading west as the company continues to expand within Canada.
The U.S.-based retailer of classic American fashions will open three new stores north of the border this year, including its first two in western Canada.
The two-floor Vancouver store will be located at 1088 Robson St., while the second store will be at West Edmonton Mall.
A third location is slated to open this fall at the Eaton Centre in Toronto.
All three locations will have women’s and men’s collections. The debut location opened at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre last summer only featured womenswear.
J. Crew debuted with the mailing of its first catalogue in 1983, opening a flagship store in New York six years later.
Merchandise became available to shoppers in Canada in 1991 through the catalogue. But the opening of its Yorkdale location in August 2011 represented the retailer’s first outlet outside the U.S.
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