On Monday, renowned Canadian fashion designer David Dixon presented his latest collection at Toronto Women’s Fashion Week.
Dixon’s fall/winter 2018 presentation was feminine and delicate, with a variety of soft colours and pastels. Although this is an unusual colour choice for a fall/winter collection, the rationale behind it was touching and very humble, as Dixon’s showcase was inspired by Dr. John Semple’s watercolour painting. Semple is a surgeon at the Women’s College Hospital specializing in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, and also happens to be an accomplished artist. In fact, the duo had another collaboration in fall 2017, when they designed a special scarf together that was inspired by the same Semple artwork. Proceeds from the scarf support the highest priority needs of WCH, including the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers—an innovative partnership between WCH and the Canadian Cancer Society, with a vision to transform care for women’s cancers across the country.
The painting depicted on the scarf was inspired by the extraordinary courage and resilience of women facing cancer—an inner strength that Semple has witnessed time and again throughout his career at Women’s College. A quote from philosopher Albert Camus helped guide Semple’s vision for the final design: “In the depth of winter I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”
Drawing on the quote’s tribute to the power of inner strength, Semple’s design shows a woman walking on a beach facing an open horizon, empowered by the invincible summer that resides within her. This exact artwork was also translated into Dixon’s latest runway show, although the designer has expanded on it further, by utilizing a wider range of colours, fabrics and looks.
Here are some of our favourite pieces from the catwalk. In addition, the scarf can still be purchased by visiting this Women’s College Hospital page.
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