Our Team
Manager
For over a decade, Richards has been a serial entrepreneur in Canada’s fashion scene as a creative director, event producer; and most notably, 1/3 of seminal Fashion group, THE COLLECTIONS.
From 2010 - 2017 Richards produced 150+ fashion presentations and events; worked with countless designers, most notably Rad Hourani, Mikael Kale, Sid Neigium; commercial retail partners, such as Cadillac Fairview and Oxford Properties; other fashion organizations, including CAFA and Toronto Fashion Week. From 2010 - 2015, THE COLLECTIONS founded and produced Canada’s premiere Fashion Film Festival ‘DIScONNECT’, screening at TIFFBell Lightbox. In 2017, THE COLLECTIONS introduced RE/SET, an alternative live fashion event merging Canadian fashion with art, technology and commerce.
Throughout his career, Richards has always aimed to immerse audiences in the sensory world of Canadian fashion and amplify its potential in the global marketplace. As Fashion Manager at the Creative Innovation Studio the goal is similar: legitimize and promote Canadian fashion design and innovation, while supporting fashion entrepreneurs, in hopes of building a stronger Industry here in Canada.
Startup Experience Coordinator
Angelique is a skilled professional with a foundation in engagement strategies, operations, and strategic development across both the post-secondary realm and creative sectors. Her main sphere of activity lies within the startup landscape, where her enthusiasm revolves around fostering community growth, as well as promoting and propelling the endeavours of marginalized students, innovators, artists, and entrepreneurs.
With a passion for curating programming and events that bolster innovation and learning through the guiding principles of empathy and inclusivity, she consistently works to support initiatives and establishments that hold the paramount value of shaping a brighter future for the world.
In her role at the Fashion Zone, Angelique's responsibilities are multifaceted, ranging from day-to-day operations to program development and supporting members in their entrepreneurial journey. Her ability to track progress and connect members to relevant resources and advisors is crucial in helping them navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business.
Fashion Technician
For most of his career, Brian has been a pattern maker, creating shapes cut from flat material that, when assembled, create a beautiful three dimensional form. This form has to accommodate the body and flatter the wearer. While working for small, medium and one very large company (Canada Goose), Brian has witnessed success on many scales. He has seen the types of decisions these organizations have made, and watched how those decisions played out.
Brian’s role at the Fashion Zone is technical. He helps Fashion Zone members use technology to create tech packs, make patterns, and, when they are ready to produce; grading those patterns and making markers for cutting.
Marketing Ambassador
My name is Cohen and I’m the new Marketing Ambassador at the Fashion Zone! I’m originally from Alberta and moved to Toronto in 2022 to study fashion at TMU. I have an extensive background in Graphic Design, and am passionate about photography, art direction and all things fashion. This summer I would love to showcase the work being done in house and the artists behind it through our newsletter and socials!
If you’re working on any projects, particularly fashion related, that you would like shared with the FZ community, please reach out to me at cohen.taylor@torontomu.ca, or directly through the Fashion Zone’s Instagram @tmufashionzone.
I’m looking forward to meeting and working with you all!