The Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition is now in its second year. With the aim of discovering and nurturing Canada's emerging fashion designers, talent from across the country is invited to present their collections to a group of industry experts.
The semi-finals in Ottawa on August 14, 2012 came to a stylish conclusion when judge Jarrad Clark, Global Production Director for IMG (Australians may recognize him from his role on Project Runway Australia) announced there was a tie. The winners, Caitlin Power and Christopher Bates, will continue in the final round at World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto this October, 2012.
As a fashion industry insider, I was invited to be a guest judge on the Ottawa (and Québec City) panel this year. The following is a video I pieced together from my iPhone and Flip Mino HD camera footage. The 9:25 short gives a unique perspective (from the judging table to the front row at the runway show) on the evaluation process.
For more information on the Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition click here.