MANTRA Fashion Show
During my undergraduate studies, when I was most involved in the fashion industry, I partook in a number of fashion shows. One competition that I entered, I even placed first! However, my favourite experience was in 2007 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; MANTRA - a local fashion show featuring Ottawa's local up and coming fashion designers. It was organized by a group of my fellow Carleton University students, who later went on to establish Ottawa Fashion Week (OFW), a beauty and fashion showcase that allowed emerging fashion designers, models, make-up artists, and other experts in the field show off their talents. This was an exciting bi-annual event for our city, as it was Ottawa's first ever fashion event.
Here is a look at all the pieces I had designed, sewed, and coordinated for this show. This line features garments perfect for everyday wear, whether it be to the office or out on the town. The garments are not outrageous, drastic, or unusual. However, each piece has character or an interesting detail, and a little bit of a fun and flirty feel. Although this line featured female garments only, I was at that time designing for the opposite gender as well.
Photography courtesy of Barry Thoms Photography and Dmitri Moisseev Photography.
Light blue cap sleeve top and beige slacks.
Light blue with beige lines polyester fabric. Darts in front and back for perfect fit. Gathered fabric at chest, fabric ruffles on front side panels, shoulders, and cap sleeves, along with linear sewn details on front side panels and upper back panel.
Grey fitted jacket and black pencil skirt.
Stretchy cotton fabric. Square, asymmetrical ruffle along the neckline, sleeves, and hem. Gathered in waist area on left hand panel. Oversized bow tie on side front.
Red strapless dress. Stretchy cotton. Flower applique cut from a complimentary fabric and sewn along entire right side, accented with sequence.
Light pink satin bluse and light brown, wide-leg slacks.
Light pink 3/4 length sleeve shirt. Thin satin fabric. Accents of pale pink lace and silver beads on chest area, both front side panels, upper back panel, and along hemline.
Strapless sheer top and satin brown slacks. Satin floral print polyester and chiffon fabrics on shirt. Flower applique on chiffon.
White semi-sheer, short sleeve blouse and black straight leg slacks with ribbon waist tie.
Semi-sheer polyester fabric. Darts on back for perfect fit. Ruffles along neckline, front centre panels, and sleeves., gathered at chest area. Bottom side panels sewn at a diagonal for visual interest.
Brown and white strapless dress.
Brown stretchy cotton, white crepe chiffon, and brown chiffon fabrics. Flowers cut from a complimentary fabric and sewn on a diagonal above hemline. White crepe chiffon panels and brown chiffon accents loosely flow around the knee.
Black short sleeve button down top with light beige skirt.
Wool beige fabric with black print on hip area. Pleated lower back panel with criss-cross ribbon detail. Polyester lining on inside.
Beige strapless dress with waist tie.
Beige linen fabric with red rose print. Fitted top and A-line skirt. Beige linen tie on lower waist.
Black knit sweater with grey 3/4 length slacks. Black knit and satin fabric. Overall loose fit with slouchy satin neck. Bow ties on opposite sides around neck and bottom hemline.
Beige criss-cross blouse and denim pencil skirt.
Cream light polyester fabric with brown flower print. Criss-cross design with ruffle along neckline, gathered fabric on left hand panel at waist area. Loose, 3/4 length sleeves. Extra long fabric wrap-around bow tie. Fabric flower applique on left side panel, accented with beads and sequence.
Brown fall jacket.
Brown cotton and polyester blend fabric. Fabric leaf applique sewn on along right front panel, winding along the side, and up the centre back. Waist fabric tie. Polyester lining on the inside.
Navy spring jacket.
Navy corduroy blend stretchy fabric. Fitted. Button down with optional waist tie. Navy and silver flower applique on lower right side.
Final walk down the runway.
Backstage with my clothes rack.
