Vancouver Fashion

Above photos by Wayne Mah, Fala Chien designs.

Vancouver Fashion Week Thoughts

by Shona Wercholuk

Bright lights, great music, beautiful designs, and an abundance of fashion savvy individuals. The organizers of Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) do a great job of creating a façade of a great fashion week event. Before the first show started, I was extremely impressed with the set-up. A seemingly plain carpet warehouse was turned it into an incredible fashion show location. There was a sleek runway with several locations to view it from, and most importantly, the place was filled up. Before the models hit the runway, I was in absolute awe, anxious with anticipation. But this feeling was soon forgotten, as I waited and waited for the models to come out.

The first show that I went to see was about forty-five minutes behind schedule, so before I was even able to see the designs I was already disappointed. Then finally the show started, and the first thing I noticed was a perfect pair of gladiator heels. “Did Fala Chien design those?”, I wondered. My plan was to research this when I got home, but I didn’t have to wait that long. Almost every pair of shoes was reused in the next show! (Not to mention by the time that show started, the night was a whole hour behind schedule). I was absolutely stunned. To me, shoes are a staple of a person’s outfit. They can either complete the outfit or they can tear it apart. To not even try to pair an outfit with the perfect fitting shoe was such an unusual concept to me. Had the shoes been correctly paired up, I absolutely think I would have enjoyed some of the designs just that little bit more.

Overall, I really did like the shows, and the pieces that the designers created. As for the atmosphere? On the surface everything was well done–the feel of the show was just right–but the small errors that the organizers made lessened my appreciation of the experience of the event.

Lav & Kush

Words by Scott McKeown. Above photos by Wayne Mah.

Eco-conscious fashions were spotlighted at Vancouver Fashion Week and included Lav & Kush, an eco-fashion label that focuses on “eco-friendly fabrics in beautiful textures, designed with the urban woman in mind.” The collections moved from smart office looks to cozy sweater dresses with a myriad of colours and cuts. There were many smart looks though the overall feel was a little inconsistent and would’ve been better off if the collection had stuck to a theme or a set colour palette. However, many pieces are sure to be desirable to the shopper who not only cares about a fashionable look but also the impact it is having on our world.

Hawks Ave.

Words by Scott McKeown. Above photos by Wayne Mah.

Camper cool seemed to be the idea behind Hawks Ave.’s Spring Summer 2010 Collection. The show was mainly composed of basics like tees, tanks, denim and graphic designs. Though the clothing was simple the mood of the designer was captured by the persona of the models. Chain necklaces and other accessories also helped heighten the image of the Hawks Ave. girl, who is not your usual fashionista and is a true rocker inside.

Red Jade

Words by Shona Wercholuk. First photo by Diana Wong, preceding photos by Yvonne Chew.

The concept of this show was absolutely stunning: a Grecian summer theme. The designer managed to keep each model almost in unison from their identical Hellenic hairpieces to their gladiator-inspired shoes. Designer Margarita Angelatos mixed vibrant yellows with basic blacks to come up with a premise of summer days and summer nights. These colours were used in such a way that they contrasted each other without clashing. Kudos to Angelatos for keeping up with the increasingly popular summer trend of one-shoulder shirts and dresses. She kept things casual, which is always good for summer, but she incorporated gold and silver patterns onto basics so that the pieces could be easily dressed up.

Play with Fala by Fala Chien

Words by Shona Wercholuk. Above photos by Wayne Mah.

Fala Chiens’ multicultural roots break through in her designs for her line, Play with Fala, a dedication to east meets west. The collection incorporates all corners of the globe from Grecian-inspired pieces to kimono-like mini dresses with a western flare. Fala Chien kept her line extremely versatile by combining everyday chic with elegance. Vibrant, gold zippers were incorporated into elegant, silk dresses creating edgy and exhilarating designs. Low dipped backs, slanted hemlines and t-shaped straps were a few of the inventive ways she made her collection a breath of fresh air. The dominating factor that Chien made sure to incorporate into her designs? The pieces are affordable, which is something every Vancouver fashionista can be grateful for.

Orange NYC by Angela Chen

Words by Shona Wercholuk. Above photos by Eugenio Flores.

This line of clothing created by Angela Chen took the classic blacks and whites and incorporated unique colours, fabrics and patterns. Each and every item managed to convey a sense of purity and innocence while remaining cutting edge. She took a somewhat unadorned black and white striped pattern and made it her essential. This pattern was the theme of her line, and she added it to almost every piece of clothing in a refreshingly unique way. The line had a way of making every item seem indispensable but not simplistic. It took classics like the turtleneck, the t-shirt dress, and the high-waisted skirt and integrated a certain invigorating flare to take them from simple to chic. She kept the femininity of the line intact by adding sequins to each and every design in an innovative sense. Chien successfully it took the basics and added an abstract, yet feminine touch.

Drew William Spring/Summer 2010 Preview

Words by Scott McKeown. Above photos by Jonathan Evans.

A conceptual crop of creations paced their way down the runway, to the tones of ultra Zen music at Drew William’s S/S 2010 preview during Vancouver Fashion Week. William presented a superb sampling of his 2010 fashions leaving attendees hungry for more. The show opened with a short video clip and then transitioned into a strong casting of models in William’s geometrical yet fluid clothing. William showcased pieces that were both extremely wearable but also juxtaposed them with strong art like garments constructed out of paper in thoughtful and precise patterns. Still a newcomer in fashion, it will be exciting to witness the growth of this talented Vancouver designer.

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