Though we don't yet know the full list of designers who will show at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto this fall, we have a final list of eight up-and-coming talents who will showcase their collections as part of Mercedes-Benz Start Up (a homegrown fashion program which launched last year).
The eight finalists are:
-- Sibling design duo Hilary and Louanna Murphy from Dreamboat Lucy in P.E.I.
-- Duy Nguyen of DUY in Montreal
-- Caitlin Power, a womenswear designer, based in Toronto
-- Toronto-based Christopher Bates
-- Lauren Bagliore from Calgary
-- Edmonton's Nicole Campre
-- Edmonton-based Malorie Urbanovitch
-- Pure Magnolia's designer Patty Nayel (based in Vancouver)
The finalists were chosen over the course of five months -- a period in which each showcased their collections and business plans to a panel of industry experts chosen by Mercedes-Benz Start Up's organizers. Judges included Robin Kay from the Fashion Design Council of Canada; Jarrad Clark, global production director of IMG Fashion; and JoAnne Caza, director of communications and public relations at Mercedes-Benz Canada.
The eight labels will debut at Toronto's spring 2013 fashion week in October. Of the semi-finalists, one recipient will receive a solo fall 2013 fashion show in March (produced by the new owners of fashion week, IMG) as well as mentoring from top Canadian fashion experts.
Last year's program winner, Martin Lim, has gone on to show his own collections at Toronto and Montreal fashion weeks.
Check out some of the designs from the eight semi-finalists who will be featured at Toronto Fashion Week in October.
