Behind the Issue

OCTOBER 2020

1. What does the future of fashion look like? For one thing, there’ll be a break from the typical runway calendar, argues Torontonian ANUPA MISTRY in “A Call for Change” (page 18). What else from the pre-pandemic era does the writer hope to leave behind? “An over-reliance on consumer goods to meet our very human emotional needs,” she says. “I used to move through the world and take in everything at a very fast pace. Now I’m much slower.”

2. When we wanted to get some portraits done to celebrate ELLE’s partnership with UNESCO (“Run the World,” page 58), we knew that illustrator MATTHEW CHOW—who has worked on drawings of everyone from the members of One Direction to Tilda Swinton—would be perfect for the job. “The hardest thing about illustrating a portrait is [perfecting] the small details that truly make someone unique—like the shape of their smile or the glint in their eyes,” says the Victoria native. “It’s these minute things that can make portraiture tricky at times!”

3. Toronto-based writer SHARINE TAYLOR wants to remind us that frizz is natural (“The F-word,” page 48). When it comes to her own hair-care routine, she keeps it simple. “I did the big chop a little over a year ago, so I’ve been doing a lot of protective styles,” she says. “I recently switched over to the Black-owned Canadian brand CurlShoppe. My favourite products are from their Coconut Is Everything collection.”

4. Shooting on location at a racetrack has its own set of difficulties—just ask hairstylist GENEVIÈVE LENNEVILLE. “My inspiration was pretty organic and natural,” says the Montrealer. “I wanted to keep the texture of the hair with a bit of dirt in it and no volume. That was a challenge because the day was super windy!” To check out the motocross-themed shoot, race over to page 74. 