Fashion Art Toronto’s (FAT) spring fashion week is right around the corner, and they’re starting things off with a bang, hosting a huge free party and two runway shows in the heart of the Distillery District.

While much of FAT’s programming is ticketed — like their kick-off collaboration event with the Bentway or their runway shows, for example — this party, held specifically to celebrate 20 years of the city’s leading fashion week event, is totally open to the public, letting anyone and everyone get in on the action.

The Fashion Week opening party, a collaboration between Fashion Week and Distillery District stalwart Gotstyle, will take over the historic district and many of its retailers with open-air runways, in-store activations and a lively party atmosphere for a truly one-of-a-kind event.

Running from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., the shindig will centre around two monumental retrospective runway shows featuring looks and works from iconic designers who’ve graced the FAT runway over the past two decades, as well as a GotStyle runway presentation featuring a curated collection of European and Canadian designers.

You can expect to see awe-inspiring designs from influential figures like Steven Lejambe, Mr. Haque, Tristan Rehel, MAYER, House of Hendo, VVeyago and Starkers Corsetry cross the runway before heading to T3 Bayside for an impressive exhibit that’ll be open for the duration of fashion week.

While standing room for the runway is free and open to the public, you can also book reserved seating starting at $10 online.

Elsewhere in the Distillery, you’ll be able to find a slew of fun activations and giveaways from local businesses and pop-ups alike, all supplemented with non-stop live music performances and DJ sets that will keep the party going into the night.

The Fashion Art Toronto opening party takes place on May 24, with the rest of Toronto fashion week and its affiliated events moving over to T3 Bayside from May 29 to June 1. 

For more details about the Fashion Art Toronto events happening across Toronto all month long, check out our preview of the festival.