Toronto has just ushered in a number of remarkable new buildings and this week is your chance to step inside one of them at one of the city’s best bi-annual events.
Fashion Art Toronto has moved on from its previous home at Black Creek Assembly and is taking its Fall 2024 programming to T3 Bayside, the so-called ‘next generation’ building made out of timber on Queens Quay East.
In a few days, the remarkable new building will be overrun by runway shows and it all starts on Nov. 14.
Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) is Toronto’s longest running fashion week, and every year, the celebrations continue to grow in size. This year, a handpicked line-up of 45 designers from across the country are set to bring it to the runway over the course of four nights.
The week is the brain child of none other than Vanja Vasic, a Serbian-born fashion magnet with fierce bangs.
“This year has brought exciting changes for FAT and our fashion week event, with significant developments and deeper community involvement,” says the founder.
“Our theme this season is Disruption and it’s all about highlighting artists and designers who are challenging norms in the fashion industry, whether that is through sustainable practices, using new materials, creating avant-garde silhouettes, or making bold, conceptual designs.”
What to expect at Fashion Art Toronto
While the major attraction at FAT are the dozens of runway shows, there’s a lot going on beyond the catwalk.
The Fashion Playground is a space where you’ll be able to engage in interactive areas such as the ‘Presentation Stage,’ an ‘Art Exhibition,’ as well as a ‘Fashion & Beauty Boutique Bar.’
“We’re enhancing the experience with the ‘Fashion Playground.’ It’s filled with art installations and immersive exhibitions,” Vasic states. “We’re also collaborating with artists across platforms to create a fashion film centered on our theme, alongside a major fashion campaign for our art exhibition.”
As for the beauty bar, which is a returning staple of the previous fashion weeks, it’s going to be “bigger” than ever before, according to organizers. The space operates as a market featuring products for sales from Canadian designers including jewelry, beauty products, accessories and clothing.
A space showcasing products from local designers at a previous FAT. Photo by Fareen Karim.
The event itself is scheduled over four nights. You can buy tickets for specific dates or for the entire week.
Thursday, Nov. 14
Fashion Art Toronto starts on Thursday, Nov. 14 with a 5:30 p.m. reception, followed by a show featuring the recipients of the Myles Sexton Breakout Talent award. Names like Lindsay King, House of Dwir, and Jacquline Bradica will have all of their award-winning designs grace the stage in celebration of the achievement.
That same evening, Suburban Deviant’s show will commence at 8 p.m., following the announcement that the brand received the coveted FASHN DISRPTN award.
“We launched the FASHN DISRPTN award this season to spotlight innovators in the Canadian fashion landscape,” Vasic says. “The award builds ongoing support and recognition for designers and artists making waves in the industry.”
The night will come to a close with a runway package delivered by Evan Biddel, the inagural winner of Project Runway Canada and a finalist on Project Runway All-Stars.
The runway shows at FAT are the main attraction. Photo by Fareen Karim.
Friday, Nov. 15
The second night has a bit more of an emphasis on the young talents of Toronto, with a 6 p.m. showing of designs created by fashion students attending Toronto Metropolitan University.
Shortly after at 7 p.m., the ‘1664 Iconic Accessory Showcase’ will make its debut, and will include the work of StudioMEMA, Portia J. Alight, Phoenix Ba, and Imago Millinery.
Nighttime will create the perfect backdrop for a group show featuring the dark designs of AMATUS I GRAY, Brandon Kier and KRATER, ending the third day with a 10 p.m. showing.
Saturday, Nov. 16
Saturday will kick off with an opening show at 6 p.m, featuring dual, up-and-coming designers STYNTSOV and ZoeStone.
Two hours later, the PROCESS VISUAL will begin, an avant garde brand that has been featured numerous times at the yearly fashion experience. And an hour after that, the GORM show will be well underway with a flurry of more avant-garde garments to close out day three.
Sunday, Nov. 17
For the final day of Fashion Art Toronto, an opening show by Zedes will start things off. The brand, which is heavily inspired by all things of the natural world, was a main feature of last year’s showcase.
The final show of the grand display of fashion is with the incomparable Kendrick Tran. A self-described “radical queer Vietnamese fashion designer,” the artist will be showcasing their second collection titled ‘First Life’ at 9 p.m.
Fashion Art Toronto afterparty
The closing night afterparty takes place at 10 p.m. and run till 4 a.m. at new Toronto nightclub Future at 570 Queen St. West.
The iconic Canadian designers behind the brand Fecal Matter, a multi-talented artistic duo based out of Montreal, will be serving as DJs for the night. The brand has had notable collaborations with fashion ‘giants’ like Michelle Lamy, Rick Owens, and Jean Paul Gaultier, boasting an impressive resume of work with their outlandish, alien-like creations.
blogTO has been a longtime media sponsor of Fashion Art Toronto.
Tickets and location
Tickets are available for single shows, as well as an entire day pass. Front row seat day passes can be reserved for $150, while single show front row reserved seats will set you back $60. Tickets to see the shows without a front row seat are $40. A pass for the entire week is $300. Prices are cheaper for students and start at $30.
If you don’t want to pony up to see any of the runway shows, you can still attend the event and have access to the bar and ‘Fashion Playground’ for $30.
Everthing but the closing night afterparty takes place at T3 Bayside, 251 Queens Quay East.