Ottawa Fashion Week is back this fall with three days of intense fashion. This year, the directors of the event has decided to shift the event back a few days, so it lies partially within a week – hence, dropping the name “fashion weekend” which is a term people have used to set Ottawa Fashion Week apart.
The schedule for Ottawa Fashion Week has currently been published on the event’s website and it reveals a packed schedule for the three-day event. While some parts of the schedule reveal repeat designers, others reveal brand new designers who are ready to share their fashion line.
Repeat Designers
Some designers showed last season and the year before. They are back to share their current line of clothing, whether local Ottawa designer or from other cities in the province. Birds of North America are showing again this season. The brand has a dull and down-to-earth tone, incorporating faded jeans, navy blues, army greens and cream colored shirts.
Micalla is another repeat designer and may be the only jewelry designer showing on the runway. Her jewelry blew everyone away during last year’s show, but she fell short in the spring with a poor presentation, ripped stockings and unbalanced jewelry. If she takes her time to present her line this season, it may just be the show-stopper of the year.
Jana Hanzel and Emilia Torabi are two designers who showed separately exactly one year ago. The designers decided to collaborate. They shared the runway during the spring presentation and are doing so again this season. Although they have not blown away the audience, their collaboration may just do that this season.
New Designers
The program reveals a handful of new designers this season, including Amber Watkins, Valerie Dumaine, Anomal and Simon Ekrelius. These designers have not shown before at Ottawa Fashion Week, but are a sure reason why people should check out this season.
In addition, Karine Breton will show her newest collection Everyone Has a Dream. There are also a high number of male designers this season, including Ralph Leroy and Travis Taddeo.
2011 Schedule
Each season of Ottawa Fashion Week has one or two major designers that close the show with a bang. Two seasons ago, Jessica Biffi and Adrian Wu shared the spotlight. In the spring, Adrian Wu took the focus with a single-man show. This season, Fashion Television host and fashion personality Jeanne Beker will show her newest collection under her brand EDIT, which is presented with support of Dress for Success Runway Show and Auction.
The first show will start on Thursday, September 29th at 5 pm with the doors opening at 4 pm. The show will continue until approximately 10 or 10:30 pm depending on the delays or presentation lengths. Friday’s shows will start at approximately 5 pm and continue until 10:30 or 11 pm. The last day, Saturday, October 1st will run from 4 pm to approximately 11 pm. The runway show does not stretch into Sunday as previous seasons, but the wrap-up party hosted by the Mercury Lounge does take place on the Sunday.
Malene Soegaard - Malene spends her life analyzing fashion and movies. She operates two print magazines and is a published author.
