Every spring and fall the apparel industry descends on several cities for a full week of fashion shows and media events featuring designs for the upcoming season. New York, London, Paris and Milan are the most well known of fashion weeks.

For the week of September 26-October 1, 2006, BC Fashion Week took place in Vancouver. Usually filled with overcast days the city was blessed with summer-like temperatures all week; truly fitting to debut the 2007 spring collections.

Debra Walker, the Executive Director of BC Fashion Week made all the media welcome with a Press Breakfast that was held on September 27th. It was a warm reception that gave everyone involved an informal environment to meet, eat and talk.

With the exception of the seminars and the student designer show all the events were held at the Performance Works Theatre on Granville Island in Vancouver. Walking into the venue there was an instant buzz of people in anticipation of what the week had to offer. There were cocktails and h’or doerves to greet everyone waiting in the lounge.

Some of the afternoon shows had single flowers awaiting guests and glasses of bubbly champagne. Designers through the week included Anna Kosturova, Caius Olowu, Blushing, Vata Brasil, Asluxe and more. Each label had its own unique take on the upcoming spring season. We saw luxury fabrics, bold colours, minis, elegant flowy gowns and Japanese injected style details.

Overall, it was a successful week that proved Vancouver is a great source for fashion.

The week of October 16-October 21st was L’Oreal Fashion Week in Toronto. This event was the 14th annual fashion week in Toronto. Known as the biggest of Canada’s fashion weeks, this year was no different. But, it seems that over the years more established well known designers have been missing from the lineup. Most have simply elected to show their collections offsite or at private events.

On the positive note, it gives new talent an opportunity to shine during L’Oreal Fashion Week.

This year was the first for L’Oreal to stage a magnificent event to launch the week. It was the first ever beauty runway show during L’Oreal Fashion Week in Toronto. With the collaboration of some of the industry’s best hairstylists, makeup artists and designers they put together a stellar event that uncovered upcoming trends in beauty for spring.

Designers throughout the week included Bustle, Joeffer Caoc, Izzy Camelleri and Arthur Mendonça. Each collection was representative of the diversity in Canada. There are so many cultures and influences from around the world that we have embraced. It was a pleasure to see the evidence of that in the fabric of our fashion industry.