It’s official: the city’s largest annual multi-arts fashion festival, Fashion Art Toronto (FAT), is celebrating 15 years of breaking boundaries by launching a Virtual Fashion Week after cancelling April’s in-person event due to COVID-19.
From Thursday Oct. 15 through Monday Oct. 26 on FAT’s Instagram channel, 25 Canadian designers will showcase their collections at iconic locations around the city like The Bentway, Nathan Phillips Square, Ontario Place, the Ontario Science Centre and Toronto Music Garden.
The kick off show on Oct. 15th will feature a sustainable collection by vintage-upcycling brand House of Mannon, followed by a performance from statement-making artist Suhkan and presentations by Aadhe Clothing, Ali Haider, eight (i) three, Folklore, Friday Sydell, Gervacy, GORM, Meesh, MisterAndyJones, Nova Chiu, Padina Bondar, Pasquiat, Prescribed Shelter, Silent Simon and U3.
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Since ticket purchases aren’t required to enjoy the shows this year, FAT is encouraging spectators to donate to FoodShare Toronto through the FAT GoFundMe page. FoodShare Toronto gets healthy food to marginalized communities facing food insecurity and has distributed more than 300,000 pounds of fresh produce to low-income families since the beginning of the pandemic.
“2020 marks Fashion Art Toronto’s 15 year anniversary, and this exciting milestone is a celebration of all the love and support we receive from our community – which is why we have decided to make this year’s event part fundraiser, with the goal of raising $5000 for FoodShare Toronto through our GoFundMe page,” said Vanja Vasic, founder and executive director of Fashion Art Toronto. “The work that FoodShare Toronto does in our city, especially during this difficult time, is incredibly important in creating equality.”
Known for being an inclusive platform at the forefront of trends such as sustainability, the body-positive movement, transforming gender norms and alternative subcultures, FAT’s 2020 thematic vision is ‘We Are All in This Together.’ It will focus on celebrating the organization’s longstanding commitment to community, creativity, inclusion and alternative lifestyles, as well as the visceral experience of storytelling.
Photo: Fashion Art Toronto
Runway shows on Oct. 23rd will be hosted in collaboration with the Ontario Science Center’s Satellite Coral Reef – a global art project that combines community activism, environmental awareness, math and science.
The finale on Oct. 26th will be a takeover from Ryerson University showcasing collections from graduates of the Fashion at Ryerson program at different sites on the school’s campus.
“This has been a really challenging time for events and creatives alike, but often a crisis creates opportunity. The virtual format has allowed us to simultaneously promote fashion as well as celebrate the beautiful city of Toronto, while also allowing FAT to reach a wider global audience.” Vasic said. “We are just so happy that we can continue to provide our platform for designers and artists in a way that’s safe but still creative and engaging.”
All presentations will be streamed live on FAT’s Instagram channel and subsequently posted on FAT’s YouTube channel.
Find the full Virtual Fashion Week schedule here.
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