Local designers and TMU students brought fashion week to a dazzling end

By Kinza Zafar

A person wearing an all-black look including a bralette, skirt, tights, heels and a hat, struts in between seated attendees. White, blue and pink lights flash behind them. — Fashion at TMU, alongside other exceptional designers, took to the 200-foot long runway for Fashion Art Toronto.

Over the course of four days, the city’s most devoted fashion lovers, designers and wearers flocked to the west-end for a new Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) season. Complete with multi-arts vendors, food and booze stands, live DJ sets and a 200-foot runway, attendees at the Black Creek Assembly were met with various sensory spectacles while uniting to indulge in the best of the city’s fashion.

From gothic glamour and dystopian drama to cyberpunk couture and streetwear slay, FAT’s last day delivered on all fronts. Sitting atop a black podium, camera in hand, awaiting each model’s turn, strut and pose, prepared to capture every thread and expression encouraged non-stop ooh’s and aah’s behind the lens. Featuring works from talented designers from Fashion at TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University), KDJM Studio, Kolleen Boutique, Refaya Turshin, Purple Hearts Supply, Solouk, Brandon Keir, Kerotix and Kendrick Tran, the following photos showcase some of the final best that this fashion week season had to offer.

A person wearing a white pearl-like open-crochet tank top and matching head piece with a fluffy white skirt layered beneath a shorter black skirt. The look is complete with black lace gloves, black platform mary jane shoes and white eyeliner. — Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing an all-white bridal look featuring a corset, draped skirt, thin veil and nude shoes. They have a solemn stare as their hands are tied behind their back — Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing an all-white base layer consisting of a tank top, fishnets and underwear with a satin-lined baby blue coat and strappy red high heels. — Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing a grey and cool forest green cropped sweater, no pants, mid-calf tights and black chunky heels. The look is complete with long rhinestone and textile hair. — Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing a long colourful skirt with fabric draping around their arms, a baby pink short corset top and a large feather circle framing a crown headpiece. The look is complete with many details including flowing pearl strings and gold and silv — Fashion at TMU partnered with FAT this season to celebrate Queer, Trans, Black Indigenous and People of Colour (QTBIPOC) student work (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing a groovy patterned crop top and wide leg trousers with pink, purple and white hues. The look is complete with spiky frost tipped hair and white chunky sneakers. — From Toronto-based KDJM’s organic streetwear inspired collection (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing white square sunglasses, ultra high waisted blue and white patterned pants and a full sleeve cropped white collared button up with pointy shoulder pads. The look is complete short slicked back black hair and silver hair jewelry, alon — From Toronto-based KDJM’s organic streetwear inspired collection (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing flared leather pants with white patterned boot legs and an asymmetrical crop top with the same pattern. The look is complete with silver bracelets and rings, on one hand only, and black leather boots and tied back hair. — From Toronto-based KDJM’s organic streetwear inspired collection (Kinza/Zafar).

From Canadian luxury leather and coat designer Kolleen Boutique’s new collection (Kinza/Zafar).

A person twirling in a long silver chrome trench coat wearing black leather pants and booties. — From Canadian luxury leather and coat designer Kolleen Boutique’s new collection (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing an all-white look including a draped dress with a centered bow and a flower crown. They hold and throw sheer white fabric while striking acrobatic poses. — From multi-disciplinary Toronto artist Refaya Turshin’s Bengali textile collection featuring architectural structures and natural dyes (Kinza/Zafar).

From multi-disciplinary Toronto artist Refaya Turshin’s Bengali textile collection featuring architectural structures and natural dyes (Kinza/Zafar).

A bare-foot person wearing an all-white look including a satin dress and a sheer floor-length layered chiffon coat. — From multi-disciplinary Toronto artist Refaya Turshin’s Bengali textile collection featuring architectural structures and natural dyes (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing a white cape lined with gold satin and trimmed with white fur, a white dress with a gold satin belt, white boots and a white toque. — From Purple Hearts Supply’s second collection reimagining and merging formal and casual wear (Kinza/Zafar).

From Solouk’s seemingly minimal yet structurally complex achromatic collection (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing black letterman-like jacket with a double-white-line trim and square letters reading “AFTERLIFE.” The look is complete with ultra thigh high black leather boots, a leather skirt trimmed with pierced safety pins, chunky silver jewelry — From famed Toronto-based designer Brandon Keir’s vampiric genderless collection “Afterlife” (Kinza/Zafar).

A person with their mouth agape and hand on hip wearing a backless black and red leather bodycon dress, black open-toed heels and long blonde hair. — From famed Toronto-based designer Brandon Keir’s vampiric genderless collection “Afterlif” (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing an asymmetrical one-shoulder, one-sleeve red chrome top with silver spikes and chains and a floor-length layered chiffon skirt. The look is complete with long grey locs, a statement diamond necklace and red boots. — From famed Toronto-based designer Brandon Keir’s vampiric genderless collection “Afterlife” (Kinza/Zafar).

From Kerotix’s cyberpunk-meets-y2k collection featuring strong silhouettes and soft styling (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing a long sleeve grey and pink contrast top with puffy shoulders and pink cursive text reading “KEROTIX.” The look is complete with a pink and grey patterned contrast skirt, baby pink tights, pink ballet-slipper-like kitten heels, black — From Kerotix’s cyberpunk-meets-y2k collection featuring strong silhouettes and soft styling (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing an all-white satin look including a bow-like off-shoulder top and ruched trousers. It’s styled with long blonde hair, silver and pearl jewelry, off-white boots. — From Kendrick Tran’s debut solo and show-closing collection exploring the Vietnamese-Canadian designer’s coming out journey (Kinza/Zafar).

A person wearing a floor-length form-fitting black dress that flares at the knee. The look is complete with simple silver jewelry, nude nails and wavy hair. — From Kendrick Tran’s debut solo and show-closing collection exploring the Vietnamese-Canadian designer’s coming out journey (Kinza/Zafar)

A bare-chested person wearing a structured knee-length black skirt, branded with Kendrick Tran’s name at the waist, and black leather boots. Long black ropes tied and draped over the model resembling barbed wire sweeps the floor as they walk. — From Kendrick Tran’s debut solo and show-closing collection exploring the Vietnamese-Canadian designer’s coming out journey