Saskatchewan Fashion Week kicks off in Regina

REGINA – For the second straight year Saskatchewan Fashion week is invading Regina to show off the province’s thriving fashion industry.

This year’s event features over 25 designers from throughout the province.

“The fashion industry in Saskatchewan is emerging,” said Saskatchewan Fashion Week co-founder Chelsea O’Connell. “So it’s a brand new industry to our province that’s been developing slowly over the last couple of years, but we’ve really created a big bang.”

Local designers know it’s a chance for some much needed exposure.

“Without this opportunity, we wouldn’t have much chance to showcase our stuff in Saskatchewan or in Regina for sure, so fashion week has kind of opened up that door for everybody,” said local designer Rylee Lawson.

Retailers in the Queen City are getting in on the fashion week action as well, stocking their stores with products from up-and-coming designers – hoping to put Saskatchewan on the map.

“Locally we have a lot of great support with a lot of local designers so we’re able to really get into some stores,” said designer Ashley Kasdorf.

“It’s the only way they can get their start,” said Colter Wood, owner of Regina’s Coda Clothing & Shoes. “If it wasn’t for retailers taking a chance on them, so we’re pretty open to try just about anyone as long as they’ve got a, they have a vision.”

The benefits of fashion week reach beyond just the designers, the models, and the boutiques. There are also the people who make sure everything looks picture perfect on the runway.

“Makeup is very important because it’s just part of the puzzle for creating a look for the designer,” said make-up coordinator Sara Lindsay. “It just brings attention to us, here in the middle of the prairies that we really haven’t had in this industry before. And we’re just kind of making a mark.”

Saskatchewan Fashion Week kicked off on Thursday and runs until Saturday.