Toronto Fashion Week: Lucian Matis Spring 2013

More global exotica from World MasterCard Fashion Week.  Lucian Matis is a Romanian-born designer who studied in both Transylvania and in Canada.  He was a darling of Project Runway Canada.

For his spring 2013 collection, bold patterns were the big story.  Moroccan tiles inspired the prints and crocodile textures embossed the leather.  There was not a lot of consistency, as the looks ranges from big, conservative, almost frumpy suits to overtly sexual transparent outfits that looked like they could only be worn in a fetish club.  That isn't to say there weren't beautiful pieces in between... The collection worked best with dresses that were fit and flared.  They flattered the body, but were still elegant.

 As a younger designer, Lucian may be still finding his core customer.  He just needs to narrow his field a bit.

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Toronto Fashion Week: Kingdom by Evan Bidell Spring 2011

Medieval and romantic pieces, punctuated with studded leather pieces provided excitement to a highly memorable collection. Evan Bidell's Spring 2011 collection was a standout among all the fashion weeks this season. This collection had the hallmarks of great design associated with the early rise of stars like Galliano and McQueen.

Evan is only 27 but poised after this collection to be an international star. He is a reality TV star from Project Runway Canada's 2007 season. Evan Bidell's presentation was aspirational and inspirational to true design lovers.  Evan displayed pieces from his Spring 2011 collection and presented it on mannequins along with a screening of his full collection. 

Evan is the l'infant terrible of Canada's fashion scene. He is the brightest but less commercially successful. His clothes are like no other and command the spotlight rather than let it glide by.  Take a look at his work - if you can find it. It's stunning in person and more so when we discovered that he creates most of his collection on his own Juki industrial sewing machine.  Thankfully, he has found a supporter in Ken Albright from Seven Continents.  Mr. Albright believes in Evan and showcased the Spring 2011 collection earlier this month to a select group of editors and buyers.

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