Left to right: Elephanatics; Eli Eco Couture / Canada; Emma Bellini / Peru; and Flora Miranda / Brazil. (Photos: Ed Ng / Vancouver Fashion Week)
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VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA – Considered one of the fastest growing and largest fashion events in North America, Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) is back for its 27th season and 16th year. Kicking off on March 14th with their opening gala featuring a designer showcase, each designer showed their top piece as a prelude of 'things to come' during the next 6 days. It was a packed house, and an impressive show from the models and designers! Returning as the VFW runway host is the always entertaining Simone Says.
VFW keeps growing and improving as the seasons pass, and this installment will feature over 100 runway shows highlighting the hottest trends for fall/winter 2016. It was evident from the opening night gala that VFW is being noticed around the world, not only from the international representation of designers, but also the visiting media and press.
The 7-day fashion extravaganza runs nightly until March 20th at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, located at 50 East Pender Street, in downtown Vancouver. VFW has a global reputation for celebrating creativity and talent, and providing a stage for emerging local and international designers.
Left to right: Brunette Showroom / Canada; Sunny's Bridal / Canada; Samuel Yeung / Mauritius; and Sousa Pitta / Panama (Photos: Ed Ng / Vancouver Fashion Week)
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“We are pleased to welcome such a wide range of global talent to
Vancouver Fashion Week,” said Jamal Abdourahman, producer and founder of
VFW. “We have grown this event into a large-scale fashion celebration
that brings designers, fashion editors, buyers and top media from around
the world. We are also proud to celebrate and launch the talents of
local designers, who have always been such an important asset of fashion
week.”
How Vancouver Fashion Week all began...
Jamal Abdourahman moved to Canada from East Africa in 1990 and then to Vancouver in 1993. Fluent in 3 languages, and able to converse in 25 others, Jamal
attended college with the goal of working for the United Nations and
traveling the world. To make money as a student, he began buying
clothing at wholesale and organizing fashion and trunk shows at
nightclubs, hotels and warehouses. He eventually opened a clothing store
on Robson Street and later teamed with an investor who wanted to do
fashion shows in Asia. Jamal closed the store and began jet-setting to
fashion capitals including Hong Kong, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New
York and London, and attended Paris Fashion Week in 1999. Back on home
soil, he collaborated with a friend and started the first official
fashion week show in 2000 which was named International Fashion Week.
Continuing on his own, he rebranded the event Vancouver Fashion Week in
2002.
A stand out piece by Gabrielab of Brazil at the opening night gala of Vancouver Fashion Week on March 14th during the designer's showcase. (Photo: Ed Ng)
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Vancouver Fashion Week has served as the gateway to designers who
can’t show in the big events such as London, Paris, Milan and New York,
and has helped launch many talents. The event is also the launchpad for LaSalle College fashion design students.
Jamal continues to put
Vancouver Fashion Week on the world stage and every season the energetic
producer attends fashion week events in South America, Asia, Europe and
North America – meeting designers, fashion editors and forging
partnerships. To date, Jamal has racked up more than 1,000,000 air
miles, with no end of his promotion of Vancouver and designers in sight.
This year's designers include: Allaya Fabrics, Akshay Wadhwa, Alex S. Yu, Allison Wonderland, Ainee
Suhaidi, And She Saw Stars, Angelica Timas, Anita Sikma, Ankura,
aniimiism, Angus Chiang, Atira, Averynthe presented by JCI Institute,
Bethany Williams, Bonnie Chung, Brittany Wacher, Brunette Showroom,
Christine Rio, Cynthia Frempomaah, Danny Reinke, Danya Weevers, Desiri
Couture, Dominique Ansari, Elephanatics, Elina Ten, Emma Bellini, Encima
Clothing, Evan Clayton, Eymeric François, Firan&Rose, Flora
Miranda, Florencia Occhiuzzi, Futa Kashmir, Gabrielab, Gatsbylady
London, Grace C.Y. Lam, Heill, Ivette Alaniz, J by Jordy, Je Vis Couture
presented by JCI Institute, Jennifer Somoza, Jenny Hedberg, Joao Paulo
Guedes, Katherine Tessier, Kat Made, LanaBetty, LaSalle College, Lata
Design, L A T by Lautaro Amadeo Tambutto, Lesley Hampton, LIDIJA, Lima
Jordan, Looom Boutique, Macano Designs, Magpie Goose by Hila Herman,
Mélanie Dylis, Melynda Valera, Natasha Chiew, Ninki, Noctex, Noe
Bernacelli, Olivia Rubens, Oscar Mendoza, Perle, Pillar by Allison
Wonderland, Rabia Dastgir, Rishi & Soujit, Sagitteo, Saint Jesus,
Sally Omeme, Samuel Yeung, Samantha Rei, See Boo Sew by Jamie Marshman,
Shelley Klassen for Blushing Boutique, Shinya Yamaguchi, Sofia, Sophia
Dumaine, So Martha So Mary, Sousa Pitti, Sunny’s Bridal, Street and
Saddle, Street Cat Designs, Timeless by Eyllye, Tinsquare by Tamara Sui,
TFORTHREE, Valeria Amaral , Yahel Waisman, Zhang Han, Zinc &
Copper, and 44511234.
This year's sponsors are: CB2, Dueck Cadillac, Evian Live Young, Heineken, HotelBlu, Imperial
Hotel Management College, JCI Institute, LaSalle College, Meiomi Coastal
California Wines, Revlon Professional, Sea To Sky Exotic Car Rental,
Strongbow Apple Ciders, and Westkey.
Learn more at: vanfashionweek.com
Runway shows can be viewed via livestream.
Left to right: Angus Chiang / Taiwan; Angelica Timas / USA; Danya Weevers / Netherlands; and Bethany Williams / UK(Photos: Ed Ng / Vancouver Fashion Week)
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