lFATl FASHIONmarket POP-UP Designer Shop

Many of the emerging talents who are currently showcasing their wares on the runway at lFATl Toronto Fashion & Arts Week will be available for purchase on the official last day this Saturday, April 28th. It’s a great opportunity to find something completely unique and to support our up-and-coming fashion designers.
Date: Saturday, April 28, 2012
Time: 11AM to Midnight
Free and Open to the public
The DRAKE Lab space is on 1142 Queen Street West (near to the Drake Hotel)
Designers available for sale include:

Platinum Agency is having a sample sale with some of my favourite designers, including LOVAS by Wesley B, Philip Sparks, Nadya Toto and more. Don’t miss it!
DATES
- Thursday April 26 10-6pm
- Friday April 27 10-6pm
- Saturday April 28 10-5pm
- Thursday May 3 10-6
- Friday May 4 10-6
- Saturday May 5 10-5
Payment is by cash only. Visit www.platinumsalesagency.ca for more information.

Celebrate 25 years of the world’s first fashion incubator, the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) on May 3rd at the Royal Ontario Museum with an amazing evening filled with a fashion exhibit, TWO fashion shows; including the prestigious TFI New Labels and a celebrity Barbie show, as well as a cocktail reception, an after party in the ROM, and the famed TFI New Labels swag bag filled with lots of goodness from their sponsors, including P&G Beauty! (Oh, razors, how I missed not getting one in my WMCFW media bag…)
You can attend the gala for only $100 for a General Admission ticket, which you can purchase at www.tfi25.eventbrite.ca.
Where: Royal Ontario Museum
When: Thursday, May 3 at 8:30pm.
Featuring:
- Cocktail Reception & Hors d’oeuvres
- TFI New Labels Fashion Show
- Presentation of The Suzanne Rogers Award For Most Promising New Label
- After-Party Under The Crystal
Twitter: #TFI25
For more information visit www.TFI25.com.
The obvious question of what to wear is simple: wear Canadian! Let me know if you’re coming and which Canadian designer you’ll be rocking.
Uber Car Service Arrives in Toronto
Last week I attended the one-year anniversary of Blowfish‘s Bay Street location and was offered the use of the new-to-Toronto car service, Uber. I have to say I am in love.
As someone who takes cabs a lot (too much sometimes), I have to say the service from start to finish was impeccable. For only a few extra dollars than taking a regular cab, you can simply order from your phone via text (as I did with my Blackberry) or from the apps available for iPhone and Android. You simply tell them where you are, you receive a text confirmation that a car is on the way, then when it is 1 minute away you get a nice little message saying that your car is almost there. A clean, high-end, black sedan arrives to pick you up. Because you pre-register on the site, there’s no money exchange when you arrive at your destination and the tip is also included. Now, that’s arriving in style.
Check them out online at www.uber.com.
Passion For Fashion Awards 2012: And the winners are…

On Monday, April 2, 2012, the third annual Passion For Fashion Awards took place at the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI).
The winners are:
Passion For Fashion Award 2012
Eveleen Dollery Award
Eveleen Dollery Award Runner Up
Renowned fashion designer David Dixon presented the Eveleen Dollery Awards. Find out more about Eveleen Dollery and her legacy here.

Sponsors included: Winners, PR Department, Revive Magazine, Sigmacon, Great Lakes Brewery, and Sweat Shoppe.
Twelve finalists competed in the Fashionista’s Den Competition on Monday, March 26, 2012. The finalists also included: Candice Faust, Kallvis Gents, Violetta Holl, Andy Jones, Natalia Kelenc, Sin-Young Gloria Kim, Sage Paul, Pranavi Suthagar, and Nadine Woods.
Passion For Fashion Award Prize: $1,000 cash prize, a TFI Outreach Membership, and 50 hours of business and fashion industry mentorship
Eveleen Dollery Award Prize: $1,000 cash
Eveleen Dollery Award Runner-Up Prize: $500 cash
Images from the event can be viewed here. (Photo credit: Ryan Emberley)
For more information, please contact Gail McInnes at gail_mcinnes@yes.on.ca, or visit yes.on.ca/passionforfashion.
Born from of a partnership between two cutting-edge organizations, A Passion for Fashionmarries Youth Employment Services YES’s expertise in youth entrepreneurship with theToronto Fashion Incubator’s (TFI) success in inspiring new fashion design talent between the age of 16 – 29. Now in its third year, this exciting program gives young fashion designers and entrepreneurs the opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship in the fashion industry, for FREE! The program is funded by the Ministry of Ontario’s Youth Entrepreneurship Program.
A Passion for Fashion participants receive:
- Workshops on starting your own fashion business
- Workshops on developing a line, sales and marketing, and presentation
- One-on-one mentorship
- Assistance in creating a business plan and building a portfolio
- Opportunity to enter the Fashionista’s Den Competition to win $1,000 cash, a one-year membership to TFI and 50 hours of business advisory and fashion mentorship for free!
Our Future Without AIDS: CANFAR Annual Fundraiser

CANFAR‘s Young Professional Council (YPC) is presenting their second annual benefit, Our Future Without AIDS on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at Airship 37, 37 Parliament Street in Toronto. Last year the event consisted of live performances, art auctions and more. Tickets are $50. For updates when tickets go on sale, visit www.canfar.com.
Ukamaku’s Be Our Valentine Sale

Why wait for someone else to buy you something you love? Go get it yourself! And what better than some great Canadian designer goods? Some of my personal favourites will be available at the Ukamaku “Be Our Valentine” sale from now until February 14th.
Note that is if you are planning to drop by Ukamaku after 5pm from Monday-Friday or on the weekend, the building does lock, but one of the sweet people will come and get you. Email them at info@ukamaku.com or 416-583-7777.
Methods of payment: cash, debit, MasterCard and Visa
And of course, you can always visit the online all-Canadian e-tailer at www.ukamaku.com.
Dealuxe Winter Pop-Up Shop: Designer Deals at $150 and Under

Definitely Crashworthy: The Media Profile Holiday Party
Last Thursday, one of the country’s top PR companies, Media Profile held what the Toronto Star dubbed as one of the season’s “crashworthy holiday parties” at the Burroughes (one of my favourite venues in the city.) There were lots of friendly familiar faces, new acquaintances and tons of laughs. I also had the pleasure to meet Mr. Lloyd Robertson with his friend (whose name I sadly cannot recall). Both were absolute gentlemen and Mr. Robertson even said I was “gorgeous” – shucks.

With TV legend Lloyd Robertson (R) and his lovely friend. True gentlemen.

Fun times with some of my favourite people in the photo booth.

Jeri Brown (Media Profile) and Sharon Ng Hayes (Backseat Stylers)

Lisa Ng (The Hip & Urban Girl's Guide) and Nelia Belkova (Style Blog)

Sharon Ng, myself and Ryan Emberley all in our red plaid. Three times and it's a trend!
Thank you Media Profile for the invite and the memories.






