Windsor’s fashion future

by Maciejka Gorzelnik

Temperatures outside may be dropping but fashion studios are heating up as designers prepare their spring and summer collections.

Toronto Fashion Week runs from Oct. 22-26 and is the pinnacle of Canadian fashion. Louis Vuitton sales representative Kamal Musharbash has attended several fashion weeks in Toronto and said the focus this season will be on accessories and embellishment but the rest is up in the air.

“Spring collections are always unexpected,” said Musharbash. “You never know what designers are going to do.”

Windsor fashion gained popularity over the past few years. Ana Stulic and Dilly Daisy Clothing have recently received accolades exhibiting their collections at VON’s Exposure and the Harvesting the FAM Festival fashion shows.

Local designer Jenna Bourque runs A de V 2 Couture by Jenna. She has been in the Windsor fashion scene for almost two years and said there are many of things changing in fashion and in the city.

“I do aspire to exhibit my collection in Toronto in the coming years,” said Bourque. “I’ve participated in a few fashion shows in the area and I do see people showing more interest.”

Could this be the beginning of a Windsor-based fashion week? Musharbash a Windsor native said he has high hopes for Windsor but doesn’t envision this happening any time soon.

“There isn’t a market for it in Windsor yet,” said Musharbash. “Toronto is accessible. You go to a show and you can immediately go buy the clothes you see.”

Windsorites support local business, according to Bourque. She said fashion falls far below the radar a lot and people don’t think to buy clothing from local designers.

Another problem for Windsor fashion, according to Musharbash, is the tendency towards one-offs and recycled clothing. It’s a great idea but not marketable said Musharbash. He also said when local designers can produce clothing on a larger scale, that’s when Windsor fashion will really take off.