TORONTO – Four Toronto-based womenswear labels are in the running to create a line for Target stores north of the border.
The Toronto Fashion Incubator has announced the four finalists for the TFI New Labels fashion design competition.
This year, TFI has partnered with Target for the annual contest, a showcase for a select group of up-and-coming Canadian designers.
SEVENTHIRTYONE from Victoria-born designer Defne Husrevoglu and Maiko Suzuki of Japan are among the labels vying for the title. The duo currently resides in Toronto.
Chalo Barrueta and Christopher Paunil of Christopher Paunil, Paria Shirvani and Sarah Stevenson Design round out the finalists.
Designers will be competing for a $25,000 cash award from TFI supporter and philanthropist Suzanne Rogers, as well as the chance to create an exclusive collection to be sold in Target stores across Canada. The TFI New Labels winner will also receive a full-page editorial feature in Flare magazine.
Montreal-based designer Melissa Nepton was crowned the winner of the Target Emerging Designer Award in February, earning a chance to design a line for Target’s Quebec-based stores.
Both exclusive lines are slated to arrive in stores in 2014.
TFI is a non-profit, small business centre that offers support and mentorship to budding Canadian fashion designers and entrepreneurs. The organization’s concept has been adopted by cities worldwide, including New York, London, Milan, Melbourne, Auckland and Amsterdam.
Target has already opened several stores in Ontario and is expected to launch between 125 and 135 locations in Canada.
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