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Kwantlen Grads Leave Audiences with Mouths Agape

April 11th, 2009 | Published in Event Report

Words by Scott McKeown. All photos by Steph Schumann

In a time of economic uncertainty, breaking out of school and into an industry that can offer no remorse is an undertaking slightly terrifying to say the least. With the right training and creative talent however, going from school room to fashion world should be a seamless transition. On April 1st the 2009 Kwantlen Fashion Design and Technology graduating class presented their work at the River Rock Casino in a show aptly titled “The Show”. Twenty-seven designers presented work which clearly demonstrated not only their technical and creative skills but also their business savvy. From reading the program and watching the images that accompanied garments on the runway it was evident the designers are very conscious about who their consumer is and what his or her needs are. Though womenswear was prominent in the show, the group of students designed for many other types of shoppers, creating an eclectic show of designs.

One consistent factor amongst each designer was their extreme perfection of fit and attention to detail. No model came out with ill-fitting clothes or frayed seams. The work these graduates presented appeared of a high quality that many fashion houses consistently strive for. Matriarch designer Christine Tai presented three looks that she described as “a blast of grandiose attitude, striking silhouettes, and eye watering colours—prepare to take the dive into glamorous hysteria.” Her collection showed off her knack for details particularly with a coat in which the inside lining was just as beautiful as the outside shell.

Pure glamour oozed out of Kristine Aquino’s clothing for her line Nefreterie. The designer displayed elegant evening wear in beautiful hues like burnt orange. The looks designed by Aquino are something Hollywood starlets could easily wear on the red carpet or at a celebrity gala. Another notable womenswear designer was Taravat Rahmati whose flowing fabrics and choice of warming tones lead to a pure escape and resort-like vision.

Vancouver seems to have a lack of menswear designers so it was surprising to see several of the grads designing for the gentlemen. Nicole Ballash took good tailoring and the right details to create her men’s line Long Division that is “tailored to the long tall male body.” Success in menswear lies in the details which clearly Ballash understands. The sophisticated gentlemen’s evening wear was designed by Phaedra Godchild for her line Baron Menswear which sounds as regal as her designs are. Material choice was clearly important for Godchild as many of her garments were constructed out of rich cottons and silky satins. BC chic was the overall feeling of Lina Caschetto’s work for her line Raison d’Être. Her pieces had a cool vibe and sense of formality without being prim and proper. Her looks would easily be worn by many male Vancouverites.

A number of designers focused their talents on kids’ wear that looked just as well cut and designed as the adult collections. Bold prints and playful looks made up Carolyn Chow’s collection Kyle & Liam while Julie Strobl’s line Gen U had some exquisitely tailored pieces. Devilish Gear designer Niki Chung used interesting forms of color blocking and detailing on jackets, such as a piece that had dinosaur-esque scales on the back. Chung uniquely decided to also incorporate a glow in the dark feature in her designs that would make any kid beam with joy.

The standouts of the night that left the biggest impression were from Pure Magnolia, Heel Forward, and Rara Avi. Couture was brought to life on stage by Patty Nayel for her line Pure Magnolia. Her creations were sculpturally genius with fabric that not only looked extremely luxurious but also had passionate movements and flow. The collection instantly brought up a reference to John Galliano for Christian Dior—it was astonishing to see a young designer with such great high fashion pieces.

Another favourite went to the dogs—or at least the women who walk them. Heel Forward is “apparel for the urban woman who actively walks dogs every day, rain or shine, and does not want to compromise on fashion”, as designer Ming Itakura writes in the program. Itakura’s designs were quite stylish, like her jacket in bold red and cut like a bubble dress. Style met practicality as her pieces had many compartments and pockets to store doggy necessities.

The other show winner was Sarah Anderson and her line Rara Avis. She infused high fashion into pieces that would be great for fashion editorials, strongly standing out against international designers. Here ideas were extremely avant-garde and edgy, with all three looks referencing something different but still cohesively bondable. Anderson was on trend with a jumpsuit but also pushed new ideas with intriguing silhouettes on her pants and stunning draping and layering.

Each and every grad showed potential at tonight’s show. Master workmanship, creative zest, and business smarts will all combine to provide these grads the foundations to start their own company or work in other areas of the fashion industry. Best of luck to any and all endeavors the grad class of 2009 may embark on in the future!

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