Who will prevail in the SFW Designer Battle?
Saskatchewan Fashion Week (SFW) showcases the best designers in the province. This year, the spotlight has widened, including fashion designers as well as outstanding talents in film and music. It is an exciting time for creative people throughout Saskatchewan, but it’s got national reach.
“The amount of work that goes into Saskatchewan Fashion Week is insane — they have worked so hard to create a high calibre show that is comparable to fashion events in bigger centers and I definitely think they have been successful in showing the country that we have a serious fashion and arts industry here. Just because Saskatchewan is small doesn’t mean that we don’t have talent here,” said Janis Procyk, Regina fashion designer and CEO of Prahsik.
Janis Procyk received her diploma in fashion design from the Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver, but found her calling back home in Regina, where she worked with fellow designer Dean Renwick before establishing her own label, Prahsik, in 2014.
In addition to offering both readyto-wear clothing and custom designs, Procyk also teaches the Fashion Design Certificate program through The Style Academy in Regina.
Saskatchewan Fashion Week is a favourite time for her. She’s found a home – and even design inspiration – in Regina. “The weather in Regina certainly influences my designs. A lot of the pieces have sleeves and provide warmth. Most of my designing comes from my own style influences though. I wear a lot of business casual clothes and I like to be comfortable all the time. Most of my best selling designs will feature my personal love for simplicity, neutral colour choices, comfortable fits and influences of tailoring,” said Procyk.
The opportunity to showcase her fashions during Saskatchewan Fashion Week is a highlight for Procyk. “Saskatchewan Fashion Week is a really fun show to be a part of. For the trunk show, I will have a lot of my best-selling items restocked, will have some new items, and will also be bringing along my new Lil Monsters brand to debut.”
She will also appear on the SFW runway on Saturday evening, facing Saskatoon’s Laurie Brown in the “Designer Battle.”
“For the runway, Laurie (Brown) and I have decided on making similar styles to appear opposite each other on the runway. I will be doing a lot of one-of-a-kind pieces for the runway this year including some evening wear pieces and new original designs. The runway will include pieces that won’t be shown ahead of the SFW runway and I will be debuting entirely new pieces,” said Procyk.
Procyk views Brown more as a role model than a rival. “Obviously I think Laurie is ridiculously talented and she always has amazing creative ideas up her sleeve, so I have to admit I am slightly intimidated, but mostly excited about being able to show alongside my friend. Laurie is such an amazing designer and I am so honoured to be considered to be at a high enough calibre to showcase my pieces alongside her amazing designs. I am happy to have Laurie as both a friend and a role model and inspiration,” said Procyk.
Check out the designer’s latest styles at prahsik.com, or on