Text by Hannah Yakobi.
Photos by Erin Leydon.

It’s an event unlike any other.

Combining the best and most creative talents from the fashion, arts and music industry, Toronto’s Alternative Arts and Fashion Week was in full swing last week – challenging the traditional, making the audience gasp and applaud.

Affectionately called “FAT” (Fashion.Art.Toronto.) by the industry members, even the event’s name defied the regular conventions of the fashion industry.

FAT was a celebration of colour. Participating designers had all taken their most creative selves to a new level. Some of the highlights of the four-day event included:

Rachel Sin’s collection was classic chic, with a funky, rock star twist.

Many of her dresses and blouses had attached shoulder pads and full-on collars made of feathers.

Models’ necks were adorned with massive, but loosely wrapped, metallic necklaces – very reminiscent of African tribal necklaces that are made in multiple layers.

Corset tops, medium-length dresses, leather jackets with multiple zippers and glittery blazers were also strongly present in Sin’s line.

A particular highlight were the earrings that ran from one ear to the next, and looked like a necklace.

Wani by Saki focused on shiny fabrics, lace, knee-high stockings, oversized sunglasses that made the models look like stylish insects, sparkling leggings, heavily-printed skirts and headpieces.

The closing number particularly stood out – a black, red and white dress with multiple stitches and layers, paired with matching glasses and a headpiece, that were very à la The Fifth Element.

Aimée Tobolka chose very soft fabrics and pastel/neutral colours .

She also opted for loose-fitting clothing, angle-bottom shorts and cropped/topless cylinder hats.

One of the most interesting pieces in her collection was a lacy black leotard.

Breeyn McCarney truly stunned the audience when her first model walked onto the catwalk in a paper dress with little coloured light bulbs interweaved throughout her outfit.

The audience sat in amazement, almost afraid to breathe, while gazing at the intricate pieces. The dresses that followed were also all made of paper, but they took different forms – shaped like chandeliers/bottles, layered ball gowns and even corset-like designs.

McCarney’s inspiration behind the collection was the romanticism and fragility of paper dolls.

Heidi Ackerman and Lindsay Sinclair joined their forces to create a collection that paired grey, flesh-tone, black and white clothing (Ackerman) with soft wood accessories (Sinclair) that were greatly oversized but also exceptionally fine in their thickness.

They ranged from rings and headpieces to necklaces and clothing attachments.

Ackerman opted for mesh and silk for most of her collection.

Ruth Weil was another crowd favourite, who combined vintage masks and miniature hats with frocks and mini dresses, worn over two-coloured leggings.

Her colours of choice were black, golden brown, washed out emerald and yellow. She also presented a lot of spider-like prints.

Last year’s winner of TFI’s New Labels competition, Anastasia Lomonova had one of the most striking collections at FAT – all her models were wrapped in fabric, from head to toe, with the clothing worn over it.

They looked like delicate sacrophages, and Lomonova alternated the fabric wrapped around their bodies from pastel gray and camel to bright red.

All outfits were exceptionally loose and definitely popped against the wrapped fabric.

NRT fashions’ (Nicole Rita Tomney) collection was very à la dominatrix.

Some models had plastic structures attached to their bodies and they all had a large piece of black tape, covering their mouths.

Tomney focused on black, grey and white colour scheme and maxi-high stiletto boots with platforms.

She also attached leather fringes to many outfits.

FAT was full of pleasant surprises and an excellent celebration of fashion designers from across the country. No two participants were alike, and the spectrum of artistic fashions presented was exceptionally diverse.

In between each show, guests enjoyed art displays, music performances and video clips by various Canadian talents.

FAT backstage

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FAJO Magazine takes some candid shots backstage.

Our best dressed gallery

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Runway in detail

All photos were taken by Erin Leydon at 99 Sudbury. http://www.erinleydon.com/