For the third time, up-and-coming designers from across Canada will have the chance to vie for mentorship and exposure at the annual Mercedes Benz Start-Up competition, hosted at MasterCard Fashion Week. For the first time, menswear designers will make a prominent stand at this group runway show with three menswear collections and one unisex line set to come down the runway.
Here’s a quick look at the competing 3+1!
Faded Lifestyle: Toronto’s Jonathan Shimoni comes to the runway with a monochrome line of casual menswear, jewellery and leather goods. Watch out for his sleek black and grey jackets.
HD Homme: Hussein Dhala, also a Toronto native, brings his eveningwear specialties to a Spring/Summer 2014 collection inspired by the flap and hustle of Luhrmann’s Gatsby. His tux shirts are stand alone, and very, very sharp.
Hip and Bone: Carlos Fogelman’s new collection, dubbed “war to royalty,” is a rugged twist on casual menswear classics. It’s the textures and patterns of the line that earns the designer’s moniker, a spiky and sheik look more street than HD Homme or Faded Lifestyle.
Pedram Karimi: Pedram Karimi’s unisex designs are characterized by their minimalism. Inspired by the mix of subculture and urban settings, the line culminates to a forward thinking, futuristic look that fits its unisex appeal.
Past menswear designers to compete at the annual nationwide search include: Travis Taddeo, Triarchy and Christopher Bates.
All different, this year’s designers promise a strong, full representation of men’s looks at the Mercedes Benz Start-Up show, October 22nd at MasterCard Fashion Week.
