FASHION EVENTS - TORONTO

Press Release

Fall / Winter 2012

March 1 (Toronto, ON) � Now in its� third season, the shOws, a two day, invitation only, Fashion Runway presentation happening March 19 and 20 in Toronto, announced today their exciting line up of internationally celebrated Canadian Design talent. This season, the shOws will unveil four Fall/Winter 2012 runway presentations from Jeremy Laing, Ruffian, David Szeto and Jean-Pierre Braganza at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

�We are thrilled to announce our lineup for Fall/Winter 2012. Each season we strive to bring home our outstanding designers who have been making their mark internationally but are still Canadian at heart. On behalf of the shOws I would like to thank our amazing sponsors for their continued support, it is because of them that we are able to make each season so exciting. I would also like to thank the media who attend and support the event, we are so grateful for your time and coverage.� - commented Paola Fullerton, Founder, the shOws.

P&G Beauty and Grooming once again is on board as the official beauty partner for the event. COVERGIRL Makeup Pro Greg Wencel, continues to partner with the shOws in creating the perfect makeup looks for each of the designer�s distinct collections. For hair, P&G Pantene Pro�V consulting stylist Justin German will create the perfect finishing touches for each design aesthetic. 

�We are very excited about the line up of designers the shOws will be presenting this March. We are proud to partner with the shOws in bringing this dynamic and truly talented roster to showcase their collections in Toronto. This is our second season as Official Beauty Partner and a key component of our longstanding support of the beauty and fashion industry that includes sponsorship of Montreal Fashion Week, Toronto Fashion Incubator and the P&G Beauty & Grooming Awards.� - said Esther Benzie, Canadian Marketing Director, P&G Beauty & Grooming.

Each season the shOws brings Canadian design talent from around the globe back home to present their collections to the country�s top Media, stylists, buyers and industry elite. The two-day event promises to deliver an intimate presentation celebrating the country�s design genius on home turf. Last season�s two day event was celebrated by the Country�s top fashion names and created a greater awareness of the designers shown in the minds of the Canadian public.

ABOUT THE DESIGNERS

JEAN-PIERRE BRAGANZA

London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012: Jean Pierre Braganza 

Fusing immaculate tailoring with an acute attention to detail, Jean-Pierre Braganza creates a truly modern, unique and intelligent silhouette sought after across the globe. London born, Jean-Pierre moved to Canada as an infant and was raised in Montreal and Toronto. Initially studying fine art, he realized that fashion was his true calling, moving back to London to pursue his dream of studying at the prestigious Central St Martins College. As a finalist for many a prestigious award, including the British Fashion Councils Fashion Forward award, The Swiss Textiles award, and the Mango fashion award; Braganza went on to be selected by Karl Lagerfeld as his prot�g� for the AW08/09 season. Continuing to capture the imagination of both media and buyers, Jean-Pierre Braganza is currently stocked internationally in over 30 stores across 15 countries including Luisa Via Roma in Italy and Selfridges in the UK.

JEREMY LAING

Designer Jeremy Laing backstage

Canadian-born Jeremy Laing spent his childhood on an army base in Germany. He learned to sew at age 13 by watching his mother, and has been making clothes ever since. Jeremy's self-taught method which combines organic and geometric approaches to pattern making and construction was honed while studying in Toronto, on exchange at Westminster University in London, and through an apprenticeship with Alexander McQueen.Following his apprenticeship, Jeremy worked freelance developing showpieces for five of McQueen's collections, demonstrating his strength in innovative pattern making, garment construction, and the use of textile to create form. In 2011, Jeremy was a finalist for the prestigious ANDAM Fashion Award. In Jeremy's view, garments are a sum of parts, all functioning in relation to one another and, ultimately, to the body. His collections often stem from his elaborations on simple principles of construction and form, drawing simultaneously from couture and tailoring traditions. Jeremy currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

DAVID SZETO

AW 2008 collection: In the mood for love (Photo by David Szeto)

Since 2004, when his inaugural, French-made, wholesale collection was snapped up by womenswear buyers, Vancouver raised designer, David Szeto has provoked lavish praise from an exclusive list of private clients. Szeto, who is Chinese-Canadian, is a master technician. His haute couture-style skill lies in his innovative cutting on the bias or half-bias allowing his fabric to flow with its grain. Szeto designs by hand-draping cloth on a mannequin before folding, twisting and bunching into the desired form. The resulting smocking - hand sewn before the final garment is pieced together or hand shirred after the garment is constructed - is architectural without losing any softness or wearability. Szeto studied at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, where a Comme des Gar�ons exhibition first inspired him to break traditional dressmaking rules. He applies this approach as much to his business as to his design, rejecting the global brand mentality of many luxury conglomerate labels, and preferring, for the time being at least, to remain small and focused, working exclusively with his own private clientele. After graduation, Szeto worked for himself in London forfive years, before moving to Paris in 1992, where he remained for 18 years and more recently to Belgium where he is currently based.

RUFFIAN

Claude Morais and Brian Wolk, the duo behind womenswear line Ruffian (Photo by T. Mei)

Brian Wolk and Claude Morais are the designers behind Ruffian, the critically acclaimed cult New York label. They have received the Fashion Group International Rising Star Award and have been featured in countless editorials, in The New York Times, Harper�s Bazaar, Teen Vogue, W, Elle, Nylon, Allure, Italian Vogue, and WWD as well as a highly praised profile in VOGUE.. Their definition of style is a juxtaposition between the improvised and the studied and accounts for their sources of inspiration, cinema repertoire, European court culture and American iconography. Ruffian is one of the few fashion brands that goes to extremes and circles back. In each collection, culture clashes with counter culture, classic with cutting edge, punk with princess. Ruffian smashes archetypes and rebuilds them slightly askew. Mr. Wolk�s dual training in Fashion Design and Costume design has given him a unique perspective which allowed him to work in Film, Theatre and Opera; a foundation in history that is integral to his design process. While, Mr. Morais� extensive world travel as a model, then as a stylist, has enabled him to create a sophisticated visual and cultural vocabulary essential to his design process. His studies in the fine arts, specifically painting, allows him to explore color on a personal and tactile level.

About P&G Beauty & Grooming

P&G Beauty & Grooming products help empower men and women around the world to look and feel better than they ever thought possible. With 11 billion dollar brands and products available in over 130 countries, P&G�s beauty and grooming products delivered sales of over $38 billion in fiscal year 2010/11, making it one of the world�s largest beauty and grooming companies. P&G Beauty & Grooming offers trusted brands with leading technology to meet the full complement of beauty and grooming needs, including Pantene�, Olay�, Head & Shoulders�, Cover Girl�, DDF�, Frederic Fekkai�, Wellaflex�, Sebastian Professional�, Herbal Essences�, Koleston�, Clairol Professional�, Nice �n Easy�, Venus�, Gillette�, Secret�, SK-II�, Wella Professionals�, Braun�, Crest�, Oral-B�, Always�, Tampax� and a leading Prestige Fragrance division that spans from point of market entry consumers to high end luxury with global brands such as Hugo Boss�, Lacoste�, and Christina Aguilera�. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G (NYSE: PG) and its brands.

About the shOws

the shOws is an on-going initiative that aims to bring a select group of Canadian talent together each season to showcase their newest collection to a �hometown� and international crowd. Their mission is to create the opportunity for Canada�s design greats to show in their own country without incurring the heavy costs associated with orchestrating a Runway Show.

Source: Brill Communications

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