Fashion Magnet

lFATl FASHIONmarket POP-UP Designer Shop

Gail McInnes — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:05:03 +0000

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:

Sample Sale at Platinum Agency Featuring LOVAS, Nadya Toto, Philip Sparks, and More

Gail McInnes — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:08:57 +0000

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.

Toronto Fashion Incubator Celebrates 25th Anniversary on May 3rd

Gail McInnes — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:34:21 +0000

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

Gail McInnes — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:41:48 +0000

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…

Gail McInnes — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:16:05 +0000

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

Emily Woudenberg

Eveleen Dollery Award

Dylan Uscher

Eveleen Dollery Award Runner Up

Consuelo McAlister

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.

ABOUT PASSION FOR FASHION
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

Gail McInnes — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:14:14 +0000

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

Gail McInnes — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:37:13 +0000

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

Gail McInnes — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:48:32 +0000

TFI’s Barbie® Fashion Challenge: Win $10,000 Cash!

Gail McInnes — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:33:02 +0000

The Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) and Barbie® have a truly exciting opportunity for women’s wear designers to celebrate TFI’s 25th anniversary and also the opportunity to win $10,000!

Read more below or contact tfi@fashionincubator.com for more information.

She may be just under a foot tall, but Barbie® doll is big in the fashion world. She has served as model and muse to many of the world’s most renowned names in fashion. Always ahead of the trends, Barbie® has inspired many designers to identify and play out their dreams, serving as the ultimate canvas for their imaginations. For TFI’s 25^th anniversary, Barbie® is challenging Canadian designers to play with fashion for a chance to win $10,000 CASH!

ake your signature style to new heights using Barbie®, the ultimate fashion icon, as your inspiration! Push the boundaries of your imagination and create an unexpected twist, fashion that can be worn as ART! Have FUN designing an “art-to-wear” piece that’s THEATRICAL, FRESH, OPTMISTIC, OUT-OF-THE-BOX!

Your one-of-a-kind design should translate to a wearable piece that can be worn down the runway and designed to fit a female model. 25 designers will be selected to have their OUTSTANDING pieces showcased at TFI’s 25^th anniversary gala runway show on May 3, 2012. One winner from the 25 designers selected will win a $10,000 cash prize!

Send in the application (click here) and one full-colour fashion illustration of your proposed art-to-wear runway look no later than 5:00pm (ET) on FEBRUARY 10, 2012 to Toronto Fashion Incubator 285 Manitoba Dr., Toronto, ON M6K 3C3.

Definitely Crashworthy: The Media Profile Holiday Party

Gail McInnes — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:29:53 +0000

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.