DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
Chic PARKLUXE returns
With the closing of Toronto Fashion Week’s doors, PARK (Promoting Artists | Redefining Kulture) is an even more important platform to showcase topnotch Canadian designers.
PARKLUXE, presented by Bankers Hall on Oct. 1, features a lineup that includes: Atelier By Ensemble Style (menswear), House of Nonie (who recently presented her Spring/Summer 2017 collection to Vogue in NYC), Lauren Bagliore, Malorie Urbanovitch, Marie St. Pierre, Okakie, Paul Hardy and Year of the Ram (classy lingerie).
The event takes place at Studio Bell, Home of the National Music Centre in Calgary’s East Village. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase their favourite designs straight from the runway as each designer will have their own pop-up shop. A nice touch to the runway show will be live musical performances.
We got to catch up with Paul Hardy and Nicole Campre of Okakie. Here is a designer spotlight on them:
Paul Hardy:
Q Why clothing design?
A I hail from four generations of bankers and accountants in Manitoba. My great aunt invested time in me, when I was a child, attempting to nurture my innate gifts. I have known since Grade 6 I wanted to be a designer and pursued honing my design skills with every job and schooling opportunity I had cross my path.
Q What are some highlights of your career you are most proud of?
A Logistically showing at Bryant Park in NYC and being featured as one of 60 international young designers in a coffee-table book would be industry highlights, but the ones I am most proud of are unpublished moments or letters from interns or clients whose lives I have unknowingly impacted in a profound way.
Q For PARKLUXE, which collection will you be showing and what influenced it?
A I will be showing evening wear from the holiday collection with novelties from the shearling line and items from the resort/prespring collection featuring my new fine-gauge knitwear collection as well as a line of quirky stuffed dolls known as “papercut monsters” created by Joel Kadziolka as an intended collaboration for a development project in Africa that the foundation I founded has been developing in Rwanda.
The foundation aids women who have been marginalized by political wars and HIV in Rwanda. I always wanted to be a bread winner for missions and charities and I focus on Africa because there is little opportunity that exists there for the people.
Q Why are you excited to be a part of PARKLUXE?
A I believe the PARKLUXE event celebrates a variety of art forms which is an essential contribution for the cultural landscape of the city. Nicole Campre of Okakie:
Q Why clothing design?
A I’ve been collecting Vogue magazines since I was 16, obsessing over the artistry of designers like McQueen. That led to me experimenting with my style, which led to altering and sewing my own designs. It was a very natural progression into my professional career.
Q How did Okakie come about with your husband?
A My husband has his masters in materials science engineering. Never did I ever think our professions would ever align forming such a dynamic collaboration. Marc had quit his career to partner with me to expand our growing design studio, WORKHALL. We see many opportunities in emerging manufacturing techniques that don’t rely as much on labour and are environmentally sound. Our shop opens this winter, where 100 per cent of our profits are rerouted into our research and development.
Q What are some highlights of your career you are most proud of?
A Once I drove down the street and I was able to count five strangers that were wearing my designs. Though Vogue U.K. and Vogue Italia were great and being named Western Canada’s Designer to Watch, my highlights will always be knowing that I connected with and inspired an audience without having to speak.
Q For PARKLUXE, which collection will you be showing and what influenced it? A For thousands of years, people have chosen these shores in this country to trade and prosper. Okakie Fall 2016 is influenced by those stories. Our current collection is now in stores.
Q Why are you excited to be a part of PARKLUXE? A PARKLUXE is an inspiring organization with similar values to me and my work. Our team is so excited … because we are launching OKAKIE for the first time. The venue and the live music will make PARKLUXE 2016 Canada’s best fashion event of fall 2016.