FAJO Magazine reviews some of the designer talents who showcase their fall/winter 2012 collections this season. These three designers stand out by pushing fashion forward with their modern approach to cuts, patterns and textiles.

By Aleyah Solomon

Photography by Kareen Mallon, Omer K and Alex Mouganis

Travis Taddeo

Travis Taddeo showcased his spring/summer 2012 collection at the Toronto Fashion Week last fall.

Canadian designer Travis Taddeo moved to Montréal from Calgary to study fashion at LaSalle College when he was 21 years old. After graduating in 2007, Taddeo was approached by many buyers for boutiques looking for new, modern pieces.

Over the years, he has worked with well-known companies and artists, such as the W Hotel Montréal, MAO Public Relations Inc., fashion photographers Martin Randeau and Richard Bernardin, art director Randy Smith, and stylist Karine Tremblay. His designs portray street wear with a sexy edge, mixing his signature jersey fabric with leather and denim, focusing on “simple pieces with a strong edge.”

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Samuel Dong

A model walks for Samuel Dong at the Ottawa Fashion Week in fall 2011.

Born in Hang Zhou, China, Samuel Dong grew up in the fashion industry. With a background in production and sales, and a degree in textile engineering, he used his knowledge of business and fabrics to open the U.S. division of Hang Zhou’s Golden Season Fashion in New York’s Fashion District in 1996.

Dong’s designs can be found in over 2,000 boutiques in North America and he has corporate showrooms in Montréal and New York. In his fall/winter 2011 collection, Dong uses elaborate bold prints and rich fabrics, adding pleats, ruffles and belts to create sculptural garments.

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Elizabeth Kosich

Kosich at the end of her runway presentation at the Nolcha Fashion Week last fall.

Native to California, Elizabeth Kosich currently resides in New York. She has studied on the West Coast and in France, and was inspired to create a swimwear collection from her own hand-knit bikini.

In 2009, she launched her line, Elizabeth Kosich New York, combining her California heritage with European glamour. Kosich’s collection of luxury knit bikinis and elegant resortwear consists of classic, glamorous pieces, perfect for lounging on the beach as well as in the water.

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