Fashion Industry in Canada - networking events, etc.

[kem]

Hi,

Im currently a fashion design major in toronto. I have been searching online for any events that may go in in Toronto , Ive yet to find any. I haven't done any networking and would love to get to know other people in the Fashion industry . Please feel free to post any events that may go in Toronto.


Thanks

[gius]

bump*

Just changed it to a more general title

Can't help with Toronto
but if you are in Vancouver
there is the yearly East Side Culture Crawl where artists/designers will open up their studios to the public and everyone can visit, ask questions, see them work
I made a few connections/friends through there

Also you could try meetup.com for fashion events
The people here often set up meetings, have drinks and talks together

[octopi]

^thanks gius! i am in vancouver and your suggestions are very helpful, thank you!

[gius]

^ you're welcome

--

i am just finishing my studies here
and I am wondering which areas/cities it might be more beneficial to stay in...
The west coast, Vancouver
or the east, with Toronto and Montréal...

The industry seems to be cut up into two--
There are designers that craft the products themselves, and then there are some that have clothing manufactured at a separate factory

From the research I've done for Vancouver, so far I've noticed there are a lot more designers in the first category (crafting their own products). They might be good for getting work experience but there's a probability you won't get hired...
However for Montréal I read there have been designers who have sold textile designs (knits) to independent designers, so perhaps that means the designers generate enough income to buy someone else's designs and also have it produced at a mill... So there is more of a chance of getting work in this case, imo.

I'm just looking for any advice, based on experiences...

[finalfashion]

Gius asked me to contribute to this thread. I am in Toronto so here's some thoughts on that scene

Volunteering for the Toronto Fashion Incubator is a great way to start out. Student memberships are reasonable and if you make the effort to participate you will meet a lot of wonderful people
http://www.fashionincubator.com/

Toronto's L'Oreal Fashion Week happens twice a year. Its put on by an organization called the Fashion Design Council of Canada and its a great event to volunteer for if you want to get a crash course in the local scene
http://www.lorealfashionweek.ca/
http://www.lorealfashionweek.ca/fdcc/fdcc.html

The Canadian Apparel Federation is good for garmento and government contacts (they're across Canada)
http://www.apparel.ca/

Toronto Alternative Fashion Week happens once a year - admission is reasonable and its a lot of fun. Much more "indie". Can't find the website right now.

If you can, snag a coveted volunteer position for Fashion Cares. Everyone who is anyone goes to it and its a terrific show and party!

Try starting your own fashion blog or join a blog like Torontostreetfashion.com or blogTO.com. It will get you out there, going to stores and events and meeting lots of people.

Keep your eye on craigslist and your school's bulletin boards, sign up for newsletters, read the local sites and read the fashion sections in the papers. Keep your eyes open. Be a joiner, but also be selective and pursue the kinds of things that you have enthusiasm for. Think about what you can offer the fashion scene around you. Good luck!

[writergal28]

And don't forget to go to small fashion events too!

[Meg]

^
all great ideas.

I personally just don't dig the Canadian fashion scene. I feel bad because on the one hand, to grow and improve, it needs people to support and foster it, I just don't want to be one of those people I'm all for buying canadian designers, but some are just not putting out the quality of work in terms of 'fashion design' (I don't know about textiles or other such things) to compete on an international level. Or if they are, they leave, or aren't given a spot at L'Oreal Fashion Week. Maybe I don't pay enough attention to all the shows there, but what I've seen is pretty much a joke. I don't mean it's so bad that it makes me laugh or anything, some pieces are nice, but it's just not cutting edge, it's not pushing fashion forward, it's not furthering anything. A lot of it seems to me to be re-hashed stuff. I don't know whether this is because we don't have the schools to foster talent, or good people leave, or don't get recognized, too small a population, or distribution problems, but I think something needs to fundamentally change in the canadian industry to help it improve. I mean, there are other countries who aren't one of the big four (Paris, Milan, London, NYC) that still produce great, interesting designs (like Rio for example) that get distributed. So where are we going wrong? I'm sure some will disagree with my sentiments but overall, I find the canadian industry wholely uninspiring.

[BetteT]

I think it could have something to do with the culture, too. As a Canadian myself, who has moved to the States ... I think Canadians have been raised to be very conservative ... not to think out of the box and not to disturb the status quo. Perhaps it's hard winters and the tough pioneer influence or maybe that sometimes we can feel that we are the little sister of the US or something.

[gius]

Interesting comments, guys. Yeah there is something.. mystery.. unexplained I wrote a few ideas earlier, but now I'm not sure, so I've erased them.. I was thinking about, where can we wear these designs.. since a lot of products are quite 'easy' here and good for everyday wear. Actually one main thing from my experience is the resources. Access to mills, great fabrics, materials.. and maybe designers in other countries will outsource when they have designs with embroidery and beads? Something I haven't seen any of them do here (since they're small). Anyway I see Dries van Noten or Marni in the shop windows here and there are specialty furniture/interior decor shops downtown, and none of them have closed their businesses, so I'm sure there is at least a market for that... a market of people who are interested in lovely things and design.

Thanks FF again for the input
Definitely worthwhile to attend the fashion week.. I didn't even think of that I asked about that once to some graduates of fashion here few months ago, and I just got the impression they hire more girls.. for dressing the models. I kind of want to do more more 'isolated' behind-the-scenes things.. than stuck at a party
Will keep options open

[FASHIONLOVA]

a good way to start and to network is to volunteer for fashion week. or any other fashion event for that matter. u ll get to meet tons of people and get ur foot in the door if u re ever looking for an internship or something like that.
go on the toronto fashion week website, i know montreal has one and fill out a form they have there and they ll call u back.
it s really easy and worth it
good luck

[thesiren]

i went to ottawa fashion week this week (http://ottawafashionweek.ca/) and it was a disaster. i was under press, and because it was so small, i had front row seating all three days. this was NOT a good idea (for anyone) as several designer sent garments down the runway that were UNFINISHED and literally held together with needles! this was obviously visible to anyone sitting up close, and how directors allowed that to be shown is beyond me. it really made the entire event look unprofessional.

anywho, nothing to see in ottawa...there was one standout designer, and a few nice pieces among the others, but nothing really groundbreaking.

my bf's family is canadian, and always give me a hard time about not making room for toronto fashion week....i really want to tell them what a joke it is.

[kathween555]

I've volunteered at Toronto, BC, and NY fashion weeks and boy is there is big difference. As said before it's hard to turn your back on fashion in canada (esp. born and raised), but it really is a huge, huge jump up to be in one of the big four. The industry has come a long way over the years and the big events have been able to get more recognition and press, but it's still not the same! All of my volunteer experiences have been really awesome, so if anything, I would reccommend getting out and volunteering.

[finalfashion]

I forgot...

Fashion Group International
http://www.fgitoronto.org/Default.aspx?pageId=10500
has a Toronto chapter... lots of great contacts in this organization, and they reach out to students as well.

Meg
I don't mean it's so bad that it makes me laugh or anything, some pieces are nice, but it's just not cutting edge, it's not pushing fashion forward, it's not furthering anything.

These are generalizations, but I also share the sentiment sometimes. I think in this day and age it is possible to do and share your work regardless of location, and just because you are in Toronto does not mean that you automatically have to be a follower... we have our tall poppies here too.

Gius
I kind of want to do more more 'isolated' behind-the-scenes things.. than stuck at a party

Sign up for email newsletters. The CAF, the FDCC, the TFI, and your school will all have newsletters or job postings. Read them. Many of them also have directories; research designers in your area, figure out what kind of company you are interested in pursuing. Ask for information interviews. Go to meetings, seminars, and other events whenever possible. Don't rush yourself. Opportunities will come.

In order to find a job, it is not good to be too isolated. Meeting people in person is so important; all industries are really about people. Ask questions; listen; be polite and not pushy, and trust your social instincts, and be yourself. If you seek you will find!

thesiren
anywho, nothing to see in ottawa...there was one standout designer, and a few nice pieces among the others, but nothing really groundbreaking.

So I missed OFW - I wanted to go, but timing didn't work out.
Who was the standout designer?

I find it so interesting that all of these smaller towns are starting fashion weeks. I am especially looking forward to Moose Jaw Fashion Week in 2012.

[FASHIONLOVA]

the reason why it s not as cutting edge as other countries or cities, is the lack of market.

in montreal we had Yso and Denis Gagnon who were the ones doing more out there collections and both of them had problems selling their lines.
Yso ended up quitting design and Denis had to shut down his store.
it s very sad but what can you do; you can t design for people who won t buy your clothes!!!!!!!!

[Fontenrose]

If you find yourself in a location where there isn't an obvious market, put together a marketing co-op. This is pretty easy if you are still at school. Collect the most talented, dynamic people you can find, each in a different field. (if your talent isn't organizing people, find someone who can.) Make a pact to help each other and network up a storm. If you can brainstorm up a project to promote group members and to put on your resumes, even better.