That’s a wrap! Another day showcasing incredible rising designer talent in Toronto at TOM*, otherwise known as Toronto Men’s Fashion Week. On closing day we got a bit of it all, from vibrant colored sartorial wear, to fur trimmed outerwear, the perfect combination of showcase streetwear and gold lined coats, and even a more everyday collection of elegant suits and outerwear for your dapper gent! I must say the Toronto designer’s this year at TOM* truly did not disappoint, and despite the fact that we just wrapped, I already cannot wait to see what’s in store for next season!
Check out our Instagram multi-pic posts embedded below, and follow us for the live stream, behind the scenes and shots from the runway shared immediately after each show!
KENNETH BARLIS
The southern California native, Kenneth Barlis, is the first collection from whom we will see for tonight’s event. Despite this being a Fall Winter collection, it was very much a colorful and honestly quiet refreshing collection to look at. Kenneth Barlis saturated the runway tonight with an exuberant selection of vibrantly embroidered/embellished velvet suits and tuxedos. The designer’s take on garment length for such a seasonal fabrication was surprisingly different and innovative.
TRISTAN LICUD
This Toronto-based designer with background in engineering brought an abundant amount of drama and swag down the runway this evening with his avant garde street wear collection. The level of details from his pieces were quite extraordinary; something that can only be seen through the help of CGI effects but were brought to life through Licud’s tailoring and creativity, a sort of an adaptation to a post-apocalyptic world especially with those multi-layered power coats.
SHELLI OH
With background from the New York fashion scene, Shelli Oh has created a chic and effortless collection to show for this season of Toronto Men’s Fashion Week. It was a collection of both soft and handsome, much alike her well-known aesthetic of “precious, feminine, and ethereal” in the womenswear division. I am a big fan of the way her pants and coats are fitting and how transitional her pieces were, which transcends how knowledgeable she is of her target audience.
ZANE BARLÄS
The Saudi Arabian fashion scene has been on the rise recently; from their extravagant and sophisticated appearance, to their luxurious and decadent lifestyle, not to mention the caftans big fashion houses are producing specifically just for this Middle Eastern market, you definitely should expect a collection with elements described above from Zane Barlas, a well-decorated Toronto-based menswear designer that had received many positive reviews from his Spring Summer collection. The elegant runway presentation felt timeless and saturated with luxury from 3 piece suits, to tuxedos, and overcoats, it was a perfect collection for the refined gentleman.
HENDRIXROE
The Canadian designer, Jordan Erin Mckay, was heavily influenced by the classic beauty of Marilyn Monroe and the rock star lifestyle of Jimmy Hendrix, along with huge attention to detail, this “glamorous rocker couture” label, Hendrixroe came into existence. The collection was quite impeccable and beautifully crafted; ranging from casual pieces, to edgy outerwear, and finally well-tailored suits and evening separates, which is why her boutique is “By Appointment Only” and highly popular among the “affluent and trend setting clientele.”
