Fashion grad and undergrad students hit the runway at Fashion Art Toronto
Fashion Art Toronto (FAT), the city’s longest-running Fashion Week, returned from November 16 to 19, featuring a runway show of student collections from Fashion at The Creative School. Showcased were designs from 13 undergraduate students, three Masters of Fashion students, and two alumni. As a key location for the intersection of fashion and art in Canada today, Fashion Art Toronto encourages innovation, diversity, and originality in the sector.
Second-year Fashion student Portia Alight (external link) ’s collections "Sweet and Daring" and "Peaceful Presents", were featured on the runway, as well as at the luxury boutique pop-up throughout the four-day event.
Portia Alight’s design on the FAT runway during TMU’s show.
Photographer @Cosplay / Key MUA @anoushbaravyan / Key Hair @maddymathon
“To be featured on the runway at Canada's leading fashion event is a dream in itself,” said Alight. “FAT was such a fun and inspiring event to participate in, make beautiful friends, and meet like-minded people who appreciate fashion and art.”
Along with hand-drawing each pattern printed on her design textiles, Alight also created a jewellery piece inspired by clouds in East Asian paintings. Using meticulous techniques from the Fashion program’s jewellery design class, it was a 50-hour hand-beading process.
“I want to be an advocate for honouring our humanness in art in an ever-increasing AI-driven world,” she explained. “To honour that, all my original illustrations are done by hand.”
Along with being displayed at FAT, Alight’s designs can be found at Looks Kouture in the lower level of the Holt Renfrew Centre and Petit Bonbon boutique at World On Yonge Mall.
From the classroom to the runway
“Escape,” a “Top Gun” inspired menswear collection by Joseph Arruejo, Kat Wu, Jina Kim, and Adia Morgan. Provided by Joseph Arruejo
Design by Joseph Arruejo on the runway. Photographer @Cosplay / Key MUA @anoushbaravyan / Key Hair @maddymathon
Fashion students Joseph Arruejo, Kat Wu, Jina Kim, and Adia Morgan produced a collaborative project for their Advanced Fashion Design course. The five-look menswear collection, totalling 15 individual pieces, was featured on the FAT runway.
“I’m very thankful for Brittany Paty, Mic Carter, and the professors in the School of Fashion who do their best to create these opportunities for students at the school,” Arruejo expressed. “Our professors are dedicated to ensuring we have these types of opportunities.”
Muslin fitting for Arruejo’s design in the “Escape” collection
Muslin fitting for Arruejo’s design in the “Escape” collection
Master of Fashion Studies student Camilla Leonelli Calzado also presented a collection created in the Fashion program. Her collection, “Carnaval,” featured five looks produced for her undergraduate capstone project inspired by the historical and contemporary celebration of the Cuban Carnival.
Bringing her capstone collection to the FAT runway was a new process for Calzado.
“Since this collection was produced for my undergraduate capstone last year, there wasn't a lot of garment production happening before the FAT show,” she explained. “I had the opportunity to focus on parts of the collection that I didn't necessarily have time for last year, such as jewellery and styling.”
Design from the “Carnaval” collection by Camilla Leonelli Calzado.
Photographer @Cosplay / Key MUA @anoushbaravyan / Key Hair @maddymathon
Showcasing designs influenced by her multicultural background and experiences as an immigrant reflected her commitment to celebrating diversity, embracing inclusivity, and advocating for social justice.
“My artistic practice is rooted in exploring fashion and textiles as a powerful means of storytelling and social commentary,” she explained. “I believe that fashion is not merely about garments but a medium through which we can express our identities, challenge norms, and address pressing social issues.
Canada’s biggest runway
Fashion Communication and Event Coordinator Brittany Paty expressed the value of participating in FAT to emerging designers.
“The reach that FAT has in the community and the connection with the Toronto fashion industry is very valuable to access for a young creative starting their career,” Paty explained. “It's important to have these opportunities to platform and celebrate emerging talent.”
Portia Alight at FAT wearing her original designs
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.
