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Student Awards

2025 Fashion Award Recepients

The School of Fashion would like to honour and thank our generous award donors for their continued support. We are pleased to announce our 2025 award recipients. 

Congratulations to all of our award winners!

Francheska Guilalas

My name is Francheska Guilalas. I am a first-year TMU fashion student aiming to concentrate in design. Fashion became an escape from the harsh realities of the world, quickly becoming a passion for sharing stories and experiences through this medium. One day, I hope to be a voice for the people in my communities to build a more inclusive space in fashion.

It means so much to me to be recognized and awarded for my work. Growing up in a lower-income family, it was hard to see how my dreams could become a reality, and it was a great leap of faith to take this path into fashion, but I am so happy I did. I am truly grateful for the committee’s consideration for the Adele Turcotte Memorial Award - I hope to explore the great things TMU Fashion has to offer and work towards the future!

Maria He

Creation has always been my way of understanding, interpreting and expressing the world around me. When words fail me, my art becomes my voice, expressing my emotions, experiences, and ideas. Fashion has always stood out to me as more than just clothing—it’s a form of communication. What we wear tells a story about who we are, frequently without us realizing it. I feel a special connection to fashion as a medium because it reflects my own journey and identity, inspiring me to explore, create, and express through it. I am immensely thankful to have my work recognized, and my creative potential supported by the Adele Turcotte Memorial award

Hafsa Kara 

Hafsa is a first-year student in the Fashion Design program with a deep passion for art, fashion, and culture. Originally from Turkiye, she moved to Canada at the age of 14, bringing with her a rich cultural perspective that continues to inspire her artistic vision. This journey has shaped the way she sees fashion, turning it into a space where she can express both her roots and individuality. In addition to her studies, Hafsa has had the privilege of working as a live fashion illustrator, capturing moments in real time at events and brand activations.

Receiving the Fashion Undergraduate Award for Fall 2024 has been a truly meaningful milestone in her journey. This recognition motivates her to continue growing, learning, and carving her own path in the world of fashion design.

Lucas Barton

Lucas is a fashion design student in his final year at Toronto Metropolitan University. Throughout his studies he has used fashion as a tool to explore the complex nature of masculinity and clothing, searching for new ways of gender expression in menswear design. Experimenting with shape, colour, texture and material he aims to forge new ways of self-expression for individuals across the entire gender spectrum and new ways to fashion masculinity.

Thank you so much for honouring me with the Allan J. Chindemi Memorial Award. I’m truly excited to receive this award. This award allows me to continue my work of exploring masculinity through design and will be put towards my capstone collection, and I am excited to continue working towards that goal, with the assistance of this award. Thank you for this recognition, I am humbled.

Rachelle Chang

Rachelle is a second-year Fashion student with a strong interest in sustainable design, textile manipulation and material practices. With a background in fine arts and illustration, Rachelle finds great satisfaction in seeing her artistic visions come to life through her designs. In addition to her studies, she currently serves as the Fashion Director for The Society of The Creative School—supporting initiatives that promote student engagement, collaboration and professional development within the TMU community. Rachelle is immensely grateful to have been selected as the recipient of the Helen and Sulo Hutko Award, and the Alice Mitchell Whitley Award in Apparel Design. These awards will significantly help her pursue her academic goals in The School of Fashion, as well as further her professional development.

Lauren Constantino

Lauren Constantino is currently completing her third year, studying Fashion Design at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her work is informed by her intersectional identity as a queer Filipino/Pakistani woman. This body of identity-based work aims to be inherently inclusive and liberating. It seeks to unravel common experiences amongst the communities that she is a part of. She is currently working as a production sewer in Toronto. Find more of Lauren’s work on @laurensaraconstantino via Instagram.

I am writing to thank you for the extremely generous Alice Mitchell Whitley Award in Apparel Design. I sincerely appreciate the support, and I can assure you that this funding will be greatly beneficial for me in the upcoming semester. I am forever grateful, as this means the world to me.

Kirstine Fernandez

Kirstine Fernandez is currently a 4th-year fashion design student pursuing a Bachelor of Design at Toronto Metropolitan University. Kirstine’s creative practice is centered around experimental textile manipulation within garments. Emphasizing sartorial storytelling, Kirstine’s work pulls from personal anecdotes and experiences as a Filipina second-generation immigrant, curious about the differing expectations built within diasporic and mainland perspectives on various topics and issues.

In constantly pushing boundaries by incorporating unconventional materials using textile manipulation techniques, Kirstine holds skills in garment design and construction, pattern drafting, and textile manipulation. Kirstine is also involved with various biomaterial experimentations including bioresin and biosiicone to explore sustainable alternatives to harmful materials frequently used within the fashion industry. Sustainability, curiosity, connection, and unorthodoxy are at the forefront of Kirstine’s design values.

Kirstine believes in perpetual learning and growing in all stages of the creating process and career. In emphasizing the voices of herself, her family, and her ancestors from the Philippines, Kirstine creates worlds in which her identity, alongside others, exist outwards of hegemonic worldviews and social constructs.

I am deeply honored to receive both the Alice Mitchell Whitley Award and the Simon Chang Foundation for Change Award. These awards celebrate leadership, service, and academic excellence, and I am truly grateful for this acknowledgment of my dedication in contributing to the TMU School of Fashion. These honors motivate me to continue striving for innovation and impact in my design work. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Serena Lestari

3rd year fashion student at TMU. Born and raised in Bali, Indonesia. Passionate about infusing natural elements into fashion, as well as utilizing technology in designs.

I would like to use this opportunity to express my appreciation towards the committee for granting me the Annie Krivy Award, I would also like to give my sincerest thank you to the people who supported me along the way.

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Brianne Spearing

As a first-year student of fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), I have a strong desire to address the issues of inclusivity and diversity in the fashion industry. My artistic vision is centered on my Indigenous background, which motivates me to create work that celebrates and honours my culture while elevating marginalized voices. I hope to produce meaningful designs that inspire, educate, and promote a more diverse and culturally rich future in the fashion industry by fusing traditional and modern aspects. Being the recipient of the Arthur Lee Family Award is an immense privilege and honour. This kind acknowledgement gives me significant assistance, reducing the financial burden of my study and inspiring me to pursue success in both my creative and intellectual pursuits. Knowing that other people share my vision and capacity to change things is a huge source of encouragement. I appreciate this great investment in my future; it motivates me to keep pushing boundaries and design clothing that encourages inclusion, diversity, and respect for cultural differences..

Emma Taylor 

I always wished to be a fashion design student; learning sewing techniques, learning the business behind the fashion industry, and being surrounded by fashion. Now as a fashion student I am ready to learn and be immersed in this culture. I am extremely grateful for the Arther lee family scholarship and give my greatest gratitude to them and the selection committee. The world is a better place when good people lend a helping hand.

Thank you very much for choosing me to be the recipient of this award. I deeply appreciate your time and consideration of my application. I am very grateful and honored to be selected. This will help me continue my learning at Toronto Metropolitan university in the fashion program. I hope to one day pursue a career in fashion and these funds will help me get one step closer to that goal. Please know that this money will truly be used to help me in my life here in Toronto. Thank you again for the Arthur Lee Family Award. I really appreciate it. I look forward to hopefully meeting you and thanking you all personally at the awards ceremony.

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Seiya Scott

Black Fashion Student Association First Year Award

Seiya Allerdyce is an undergraduate student at TMU as well as an aspiring costume designer. He’s a multimedia artist working influenced by nerd culture, his punk worldview , activism, and his one true love of pro wrestling. He uses his experiences as a black trans male to influence his beliefs , and his art. With his art, and education he hopes to create work that is representative of marginalized bodies, important issues, and nerdy folks of any creed.

Thank you so much to the black student association for such a wonderful award. I’m very honoured to be chosen among the many talented black artists in my program, and I am humbled by the presence of other talented students, and staff. This journey of university has not been without its challenges, but being around such tremendous individuals in this school has been greatly encouraging. (Special thanks to my professor who helped me through the application process, and to my dear friends who have been so supportive throughout my university experience).

Precious Ayolade

Black Fashion Student Association Third Year Award

Precious Ayolade is a 3rd-year Fashion Design student. As a black creative venturing into the fashion industry, she wants to create a safe space for BIPOC who are being turned away due to their background, culture, religion, or even body size. Through her designs, she wants to teach others to embrace their inner child, princess, prince, or just royalty, without the need for society to define who they are or should be. By helping others like her, she engages and assists those struggling to find their way and battling mental health issues.

Destiny Lowe

Tasha Davis

Tasha Davis remains a Canadian-based artist with 10 years of experience, in illustration, acrylic renderings, 3D sculpture work, and textile development. She is a fourth-year fashion design student. As an artist she aims to express her life experiences through her work, including the variety of human emotions translated into each piece. Tasha wishes to evoke emotion from her designs, creating elevated garments inspired by the earth’s natural elements, reflecting the feeling of being unconfined.

This award is a blessing, thank you for selecting me, I've worked hard up until now and receiving this award is an honour. All the funds are going towards my capstone fees and will help me support my ideas and bring my designs to life. Illustrating has always been a part of fashion design that I’ve cherished, it's how I started and all my biggest inspirations are illustrators and painters. I started drawing at the age of 4 and have developed my skills over the years. It has always been my love and something I'll never stop continuing to grow. Again, thank you. It is such a blessing, I will continue to work towards my goals with the help of the award to further support my education.

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Brianna Antoniel

 

Kyle Shepherd

Kyle Shepherd is a writer and researcher currently in the Fashion program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Concentrating on fashion studies, Kyle enjoys researching using an interdisciplinary framework that demonstrates fashion's ability to showcase the intricacies of human experience and how fashion plays a role in daily life. He is specifically interested in Punk narratives and fashion, and how they affect youth subcultures. 

After completing his undergraduate degree, Kyle plans to pursue both a master's and a PhD relating to material culture, design history, and art history. Outside of his research, Kyle enjoys working as a Graphic Designer with Fashion Studies, an open-access fashion studies journal within the School of Fashion. Kyle hopes that through his work, he can stimulate engaging conversation and ideas surrounding what fashion is and what it can achieve.

Rachelle Chang

Helen and Sulo Hutko Award 2nd Year, Fashion

Rachelle is a second-year Fashion student with a strong interest in sustainable design, textile manipulation and material practices. With a background in fine arts and illustration, Rachelle finds great satisfaction in seeing her artistic visions come to life through her designs. In addition to her studies, she currently serves as the Fashion Director for The Society of The Creative School—supporting initiatives that promote student engagement, collaboration and professional development within the TMU community. Rachelle is immensely grateful to have been selected as the recipient of the Helen and Sulo Hutko Award, and the Alice Mitchell Whitley Award in Apparel Design. These awards will significantly help her pursue her academic goals in The School of Fashion, as well as further her professional development.

Alexandra Tsinas

Helen and Sulo Hutko Award 2nd Year, Fashion

Alexandra Tsinas is a second year fashion student at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is very passionate about the arts and expressing her creativity in different ways. Fashion has always been an important form of self expression for her and she is grateful to be able to pursue it through her education. She is excited for upcoming learning opportunities and to be able to grow creatively and develop new skills that will inspire her to push boundaries. She is beyond thankful for her efforts to be recognized and awarded with the Helen & Sulo Hutko Award.

Thank you so much for this achievement, I feel deeply honored to have been chosen as a recipient of this award. I want to extend my gratitude to the TMU awards selection committee for recognizing my efforts and accomplishments. I feel so thankful for this opportunity and the support this will provide to my education. Your support and encouragement means so much to me!

Manely Ramezannia

Helen and Sulo Hutko Award 3rd Year, Fashion

My name is Manely Ramezannia, and I am a third-year fashion design student at Toronto Metropolitan University. Receiving this award is incredibly meaningful to me, as I have been passionate about fashion and design from a young age. It was always my dream to study at TMU's School of Fashion, and I feel deeply grateful for the past three years I’ve spent pursuing this goal. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me along the way and shared their knowledge, helping me grow as a designer.

I am truly honored to receive the Helen and Sulo Hutko Award. This recognition will be a tremendous support in my design journey, especially as I prepare for my capstone project in the years ahead. My designs often embody a feminine perspective and are deeply inspired by Iranian culture. In light of the recent events in Iran, I feel a strong responsibility as a designer to express my emotions and amplify the voices of the women in my country. Through my work, I hope to help them feel seen and heard.

Kyla Pham

Helen and Sulo Hutko Award 3rd Year, Fashion 

Hi, My name is Kyla Nhi Pham. I am deeply honored to receive the Helen and Sulo Hutko Award for my third year of studies. As a dedicated Fashion Design student with a passion for sustainability and cultural heritage, I strive to create designs that empower individuals with confidence, self-love, and pride, reflecting my commitment to innovation and meaningful storytelling through fashion. This recognition not only supports my academic journey but also inspires me to pursue excellence in fashion design. I am grateful to the Hutko family for their generosity and commitment to empowering students like me. Thank you for believing in my potential and helping me move closer to my dreams.

Emma Piercey

Helen and Sulo Hutko Award 4th Year,  Fashion 

Emma is a 4th year Fashion Design Student at Toronto Metropolitan University, having returned from a semester abroad at London College of Fashion studying Fashion Management. Emma concentrates on a sustainable design ethos: developing bio-textiles, exploring natural dyes, and practicing a sustainable production of materials across projects. She is deeply motivated by the creation of textiles for her garments controlling the environmental impact of her designs. Emma’s process is purposeful, embracing alternative processes from a sustainable lens. She is currently the Co-President of the Sustainable Fashion Initiative, and working as a research assistant under Rachel Machenry on the flax to linen project in collaboration with the TMU rooftop farm.

I want to thank the donors of the Helen and Sulo award for their extreme generosity. I have always been passionate within my studies at TMU, and want to reach my most sincere appreciation for the recognition and opportunity this award will give me. Thank you, again, for the offering of sharing this passion with the passed alumni, Helen and Sulo.

Victoria Covo

Helen and Sulo Hutko Award 4th Year,  Fashion 

Born in Toronto and raised in Cartagena, Colombia, Victoria Covo is a passionate fourth-year Fashion student who thrives on pushing creative boundaries. Her work is an exploration of textiles, materials, and illustration, deeply inspired by her life experiences and cultural heritage. Drawing from her artistic roots, Victoria experiments with textures, techniques, and bold silhouettes, constantly striving to break the mold. With a deep appreciation for multidisciplinary studies, she fuses her expertise in fashion, textiles, illustration, and editorial design to craft unique, innovative projects. Every piece she creates reflects her fearless approach to blending diverse skills and ideas into the world of fashion.

I am deeply honoured and grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Helen and Sulo Hutko scholarship Award. This support means more to me than words can express, as it brings me one step closer to achieving my dreams in fashion design. The recognition of my hard work and potential is incredibly motivating, and this scholarship allows me to focus even more on refining my skills, exploring new techniques, and pushing creative boundaries within my studies. Your generosity not only eases the financial burden but also inspires me to continue pursuing excellence in my work. I am truly thankful for this opportunity and excited to put everything I have into the projects and designs I am working on. Thank you once again for your trust and investment in my future as a designer. I will strive to make the most of this incredible opportunity.

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Tomi Segun-Adebowale

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Erica Barrientos

Photo of Brandon Morin

Brandon Morin

My name is Brandon Morin Fox. I’m a Two-Spirit Indigenous fashion student studying in my second year at Toronto Metropolitan University. I am also the Events and Community Relations Ambassador at the Fashion Zone and Research Assistant at the Beading Circle.

Fashion can be a signifier of essential issues. It can be used as a tool for storytelling inequality with racial and social injustice that affects Indigenous peoples. I also believe that fashion and art contribute to propelling the economies of Indigenous communities through the conscious buying and funding of Indigenous artists, entrepreneurs and initiatives. In the near future, I also hope to create opportunities that will contribute to the preservation of Indigenous knowledge and practices

Portrait of Denisa marginean

Linda Lewis Award

Denisa Marginean

Denisa Marginean is a fashion merchandising consultant and writer currently based in Toronto, Canada. Marginean holds a Masters from Toronto Metropolitan University where she explored the intersection of luxury, artistic design practices, and anti-fashion sub-cultures. With advanced research and luxury experience, she is interested in bridging her education with the current fashion market. 

 

 

Portrait of Emily Dugas

Major Research Project Book Prize

Emily Dugas

An MA Fashion and Bachelor of Commerce graduate with professional experience in advertising and strategic marketing, Emily brings both a creative and analytical perspective to her work. Emily’s MRP research presented an observation of the Canadian ecolabel market and determined which ecolabels are being used by Canadian apparel companies. Her study calls attention to the commodification of sustainable efforts through the use of labelling schemes and discusses the implications of widespread ecolabel use in the apparel industry.

 

 

Portrait of Alliya Lopez

Major Research Project Book Award

Alliya Lopez

Alliya Lopez is a recent MA Fashion graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is passionate about representation in fashion, ethical consumption, and analyzing the colourism that is perpetuated by the beauty industry through skin whitening.

 

 

Portrait of Reyhab Patel

Major Research Project Book Award

Reyhab Patel

Reyhab Mohmed Patel is continuing her academic interests as a first year PhD in Sociology student at Carleton University.  Her current research interests are on storytelling practices, futurist studies, Islamophobia studies and arts-based activism. Additionally, she works as a creative director for various upcoming storytelling projects. Including Khawab - that is premiering in July of 23' at the Innovation Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. 

A Mipsterz Collaboration: Khawab: Fashion, Art and Culture - A storytelling project 

This project, Khawab is in collaboration with the Mipsterz – an arts collective based in New York City. Khawab is a storytelling project that focuses on transforming Muslim women into their fictional alter-egos.Muslim Futurism is used as a social movement that incorporates fashion, art and culture as modes of identity formation, storytelling and self-expressions and as a way of resisting rampant Islamophobia. The purpose of this creative project is to reimagine the inclusion of Muslim women into the realm of fictional storytelling.

 

 

Portrait of Chhandasi Ganguly

Research Methods

Chhandasi Ganguly

Chhandasi Ganguly works at the intersection of fashion and media by synthesizing her training and skills in literature, film, and fashion. She considers herself a storyteller with a knack for weaving stories with words and outfits. She has experience in written and visual content communication and hopes to work with a renowned fashion magazine in the future.

 

 

Portrait of 
Camille McConkey

History/Theory I

Camille McConkey

Camille is in her second year of the MA in Fashion Program at Toronto Metropolitan University and holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on CSR reporting and indicator disclosure in the fashion industry.

 

 

Portrait of Chloe Numbers

Digital Studio, Diversity in Fashion 

Chloe Numbers

Chloe Numbers is a second-year MA Fashion student at TMU. Her research area is fashion history, with a particular focus on early-twentieth century dress worn by those with historically marginalized and 'non-normative' bodies. Other research interests include fashion history in the Jewish diaspora, the history of women and domestic handicrafts, and the historical footwear. Her favourite time period for fashion is late Edwardian (but only if you make her choose).

 

 

Portrait of Megan Hughes

History/Theory II

Megan Hughes

Megan K. Hughes is a TMU School of Fashion Master's scholar, writer, and contract lecturer. Her work focuses on millinery, research-creation, pedagogy, and community-building.

 

Storytelling and Design

Rebecca Cadieux

 

 
Portrait of Julie Klein

Avant Garde Fashion

Julie Klein

Julie Klein is a designer and artist from Buffalo, NY, USA, pursuing her MA in fashion at TorontonMetropolitan University. Her research and designs focus on sustainability in fashion and how designncan connect and educate on environmental and ethical issues. Julie loves to experiment with color and form in a variety of methods, both physical and digital. She is thankful to have had the opportunity to pursue her MA at TMU, as it has led to some of her favorite work to date. Julie is also a co-founder of a nonprofit art studio for ages 3-18 in Grand Island, NY, and a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and Buffalo State University.

Portrait of Deanna Armenti

The Fashioned Body

Deanna Armenti

Deanna Armenti (She/Fae) is an emerging lesbian poet, zine creator, and textile researcher. She is currently attending the Fashion Master’s program at Toronto Metropolitan University and is in her culminating thesis year. Her research is practice-based and explores the intersection of embodiment and affect, investigating the queer erotic form through the lens of queer and kink studies. Her thesis project, Ripple: A Wearable Environment, is a large-scale wearable textile installation piece based on a ripple on water which explores the dreamlike state that subs (or submissives) can experience during BDSM scenes, called subspace.

Deanna is an editorial assistant for TMU's open access journal, Fashion Studies. Her article Subspace: an Internal and Liminal Place is also currently under review with the journal. 

For samples of her research visit @queer.textiles on Instagram.

Deanna also runs her own queer publication, The Sapphic Printing Press, which publishes an ongoing photo zine called SAPPHIC featuring writers worldwide. The Sapphic Printing Press has been featured in Open Space Victoria's Small Press showcase (2020), the AGO Insider's Pride-ful Narratives article (2021), and at Broken Pencil’s Canzine (2022). Her creative writing has been featured in Feels Zine and Carousel Zine. Her poetry zine I Know My Own Heart was nominated in the Litzine category at Broken Pencil’s 2022 Zine Awards. Check out @thesapphicprintingpress on Instagram and Tiktok.

Portrait of Emma Kim

Fashion and Entrepreneurship

Emma Kim

Emma Kim is currently a second-year MA Fashion candidate in the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. Drawing on her background in Art History, her research explores the intersections between art and fashion.

Portrait of Jonathan Lee

Research Methods

Jonathan Lee

I am a first-year student in the MA Fashion program, a fashion designer, and a tarot card reader. Having graduated from the Undergraduate Fashion Design program at TMU, I decided to continue pursuing my academic crave from a theoretical approach to fashion. I am interested in exploring East Asian fashion studies and cultural studies through the lens of decolonization. In my current study, I will be researching the ethnocultural identity and diaspora of Hongkongers, and how it relates to the city’s fashion system.

 

 

Portrait of Mia Yaguchi-Chow

History/Theory I

Mia Yaguchi-Chow

Mia is a non-binary artist, photographer, illustrator, graphic designer, and actor. They enjoy creating work that contributes to cultural discourses, starting dialogues between themselves and others, and encouraging authentic and comfortable self-expression. Mia uses their artwork as a way to learn about and express themselves and wishes to make and contribute to positive change with their work.

 

 

Portrait of Emma Kim

Art in Fashion

Emma Kim 

Emma Kim is currently a second-year MA Fashion candidate in the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. Drawing on her background in Art History, her research explores the intersections between art and fashion.

 

 

Portrait of Megan Hughes

Globalization and Fashion

Megan Hughes

Megan K. Hughes is a TMU School of Fashion Master's scholar, writer, and contract lecturer. Her work focuses on millinery, research-creation, pedagogy, and community-building.

 
Portrait of Amanda Pearn

Digital Studio

Amanda Pearn

Amanda Pearn (she/her) is a textile artist specializing in the intersection between couture fashion and tailoring. She is currently a second year Masters of Fashion candidate at Toronto Metropolitan University exploring her academic interests within traditional and modern facets of the tailoring trade. Her upcoming MRP project investigates the tailor and client relationship through a material culture lens. Amanda is also the Founder of Rosebud Studio (rosebudstudio.ca) which offers holistic wardrobe services through bespoke tailoring, styling,and access to professional attire for women entering the workforce.

 

Digital Studio

Haya Abdelhamid

 

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Jessy Simon

My name is Jessy Simon, I am a fourth year Fashion student specializing in design. I am currently focusing on my graduation project, a men’s evening wear collection. I specialise in beadwork and embroidery craftsmanship and use them to deliver my cultural intersectionality.

I am very thankful for this opportunity that you have awarded me. This award is very helpful supporting me through the process of finishing my collection. Winning this award helps me continue doing the work that I enjoy and showcasing it to the world.

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Tasha Davis

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Ashwyn Buckshi

Swetha Sutharsan

My name is Swetha Sutharsan and I am currently a fourth year student at The Creative School’s Fashion program. As a dedicated member of The School of Fashion with a knack for journalism and design history, I am honored to be this year’s recipient of the Sandra Haynes Memorial Award. My academic and extracurricular pursuits at Toronto Metropolitan University have been focused on popularizing a less ethnocentric approach to fashion, and forming inclusive spaces to amplify the voices of creatives from marginalized communities. My work throughout the school community, as demonstrated by my positions on StyleCircle, INTRO and as a student representative on the school council, have allowed me to make the most of my university experience. I am beyond grateful to have received this scholarship, and I would like to thank the founders of this award for their generosity and unwavering support towards the students at the School of Fashion. I have an endless amount of gratitude for the opportunities presented by The Creative School, and I hope to continue making an impact within the fashion industry using this foundation!

Sage Tucker

Sage Tucker (She/they) is an interdisciplinary artist and performer with a passion for costume design, historical fashion, and the art of aging and dyeing costumes for theatre and film. They are a fourth year student in TMU’s fashion program, and are soon to be a 2025 graduate. As a queer person of colour, she aims to inform her work through an intersectional lens, and strives to create compelling works that allow them to partake in visual narrative storytelling. Sage hopes to continue inspiring hers and others passion for the performing arts and fashion, and she is very grateful to all those who have supported her through their journey. They are very thankful to be recognized through this award and have her achievements bolstered by the Sandra Haynes Memorial Award and the TMU fashion awards committee.

 

Kirstine Fernandez

Kirstine Fernandez is currently a 4th-year fashion design student pursuing a Bachelor of Design at Toronto Metropolitan University. Kirstine’s creative practice is centered around experimental textile manipulation within garments. Emphasizing sartorial storytelling, Kirstine’s work pulls from personal anecdotes and experiences as a Filipina second-generation immigrant, curious about the differing expectations built within diasporic and mainland perspectives on various topics and issues.

In constantly pushing boundaries by incorporating unconventional materials using textile manipulation techniques, Kirstine holds skills in garment design and construction, pattern drafting, and textile manipulation. Kirstine is also involved with various biomaterial experimentations including bioresin and biosiicone to explore sustainable alternatives to harmful materials frequently used within the fashion industry. Sustainability, curiosity, connection, and unorthodoxy are at the forefront of Kirstine’s design values.

Kirstine believes in perpetual learning and growing in all stages of the creating process and career. In emphasizing the voices of herself, her family, and her ancestors from the Philippines, Kirstine creates worlds inwhich her identity, alongside others, exist outwards of hegemonic worldviews and social constructs.

I am deeply honored to receive both the Alice Mitchell Whitley Award and the Simon Chang Foundation for Change Award. These awards celebrate leadership, service, and academic excellence, and I am truly grateful for this acknowledgment of my dedication in contributing to the TMU School of Fashion. These honors motivate me to continue striving for innovation and impact in my design work. Thank you for your generosity and support.

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Annabelle Landry

 

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Vivian Pan 

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Ali Chaudhry