Text by Justine Woolcott.

Photos by Omer K.

Our second installment from the Ottawa Fashion Week follows.

This is a continuation from the coverage of day 1.

Illyria Design

The inspiration for Illyria Design’s spring/summer 2012 collection was easy glamour.

Details, such as metallic hems, created an edgy look when added to jersey and linen-knits. Warm earth tones were the main palette, and were used to create draped and pleated dresses – the result was a clean and sophisticated look.

Pieces that stood out in this collection were dramatic back or side cutouts, an on-trend look loved by the crowd.

Kania

The Kania show opened up with a bang and was rewarded with the first standing ovation of the Ottawa Fashion Week.

Extravagant neon feather headpieces, dancing models and reggae-dance music created the feel of a Caribbean island, which was the inspiration for the collection.

Designer Stacey Bafi-Yeboa used bright jersey and cotton blends to create structured pieces. Large black jewels and feather-adorned collars were design details that took the collection to the next level.

!Nu.i

Hot pink fringe accessories paired with bold tribal and leopard prints created an unexpected hit in !Nu.i’s Lady Savage collection.

A periwinkle jumpsuit with leopard print straps was the first look that set the tone of unexpected design elements.

Particularly memorable were jumpers and pants with knee cutouts, and the pairing of leopard print tops and floral printed skirts.

Alexis Reyna

Barcelona-based designer Alexis Reyna’s debut at OFW was highly anticipated and he did not disappoint.

The womenswear collection featured hand-painted, oversized blazers, with deconstructed hemlines and unfinished sleeves. The frayed hems were a stark contrast to the billowy, printed blouses and cotton printed shirtdresses.

Reyna also debuted his first menswear line; a collection that he says consists of his favourite pieces. Graphic T-shirts, mini-shorts and mesh were Reyna’s vision for men and, in fact, he himself walked onto the runway wearing only mesh shorts later in the show.

Ralph Leroy

The theme of fire predominated in Ralph Leroy’s spring/summer collection.

The show started off with a performance by a band called Mackenzie, and then heated up with a fiery show by Sophie Latreill from Fire Weavers.

Once the clothing made it onto the runway, bright reds and yellows competed for attention with the literal depictions of flames covering the clothing.

Although fire was the inspiration for the collection, Leroy contrasted loud colours with neutral asymmetrical dresses.

The final piece was a show-stopping white feather dress with large black dots covering the skirt and train.

Coverage from OFW day 3 to follow.