Originally published in TFI News: May 2009
The fourth annual [FAT] Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week took place over a four-day stretch from April 21 to April 24 at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District. More than 40 designers from across Canada and one from Bosnia showcased their collections, which ranged from classic womenswear to over-the-top costume pieces. Starkers! Corserty’s time-travelling collection featured corsets for both men and women—a few lucky audience members received a USB key with an offer of a free custom corset. The infamous design collective The Deadly Nightshades Bike Crew debuted a sustainable line of womenswear featuring bike motifs with an aqua and orange palette. Breeyn McCarney brought the circus to town with cute party dresses. Jessica Mary Clayton’s Walking Tall collection had one model walking the entire runway on stilts. David Dixon assistant Wesley Badanjak showed a well-constructed collection of careerwear for women. Magpie Designs produced a well-choreographed show featuring cabaret styled moves for their all-black, sexy line of dresses and coats. Military-inspired ÜND debuted its vinyl collection of strong, sexy silhouettes. Tassoni Brasil called upon the sexiest of Elmer Olsen Models for its runway debut of sensuous swimwear. Fashion veteran Annie Thompson showed her artistic flair with a collection of royal purple and chartreuse layered outfits inspired by her recent travels to India. Kirsty McKenzie called upon local celebrity models Zoie Palmer from Global’s The Guard and Sarah Manninen of TMN’s The Line for her Deee-Lite and Grace Jones–inspired collection of velvet body suits and vinyl dresses. For more information, visit www.getfat.ca. Images below from [FAT].
