CANADA’S BREAKTHROUGH DESIGNERS COMPETITION
Fashion event looks to support up-and-coming Canadian talent across the country
Q What is TÉLIO’s Canada’s Breakthrough Designers competition?
A Rebecca Lowson: Canada’s Breakthrough Designers is an event hosted by TÉLIO which brings together 22 fashion design schools across Canada and challenges aspiring fashion designers to compete for scholarships and other prizes. TÉLIO provides the participants with a theme and a selection of fabrics to choose from to create a unique design. Twenty-five finalists are selected and have the chance to present their garment down a professional runway in Montreal.
Q Is there anything new happening this year or any significant ways in which the competition has changed since it began?
A Sonia Sefaty: The TÉLIO competition has changed over the years, considerably. We first started out in 2006 with five fashion schools coming from the province of Quebec only. In 2009, TÉLIO proudly announced a national expansion involving 20 fashion design schools across Canada. In 2011, TÉLIO was honoured to introduce its competition under a new name: Canada’s Breakthrough Designers. Today we have 22 fashion schools coast to coast and participation peaked last year at 531 students across Canada. Also, the scholarships awarded to the top recipients went from a total of $3,500 to $15,000 to our top five winners. Over the years, partners have also contributed by giving amazing prizes to some of the selected winners (e.g. LECTRA has donated over the past four years cutting edge fashion design software licences valued at $183,610, Equipement Delisle donated an all equipped professional industrial sewing machine, etc.).
Q What are some of the criteria to be considered for the awards?
A Lowson: Our main three criteria are the following: creativity, technical skills and respect of the theme. Participants must be second or third-year students. There is a maximum of six metres of fabric to be used for the garment. Each school has a maximum of seven sketches that they may submit. (And) there are strict deadlines to be respected for sketch and garment submissions.
Q How are finalists chosen?
A Lowson: Firstly, students are asked to notify their school representative of their interest in participating in this event and ascertain that they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, students must sketch their design according to the theme and competition guidelines. Then, the competition jury, comprised of acclaimed fashion professionals, will select 25 finalists. Those finalists will be asked to produce their creation and will be invited to present their garment on a professional runway in Montreal held in February 2015.
Q What will they win?
A Lowson: Five finalists who demonstrate outstanding creativity, best technical skills, and respect of the theme will be awarded one of five scholarships. Specifically, here are the prizes: $5,000 scholarship, $3,500 scholarship, $2,500 scholarship, $2,000 Creative Mention scholarship, $2,000 Technical Mention scholarship.
Q : Many Canadian fashion events and awards seem to be centred in Toronto, but this award recognizes talent from all across Canada including six finalists from Metro Vancouver! Why is it important to the organizers to represent such a wide range of local talent?
A Sefaty: Supporting, preparing, challenging, and giving back are all reasons why TÉLIO hosts an annual design competition. TÉLIO has always been committed to the growth and development of the next generation of up and coming design talent in Canada. The focus is to prepare aspiring fashion designers for the commercial realities of the industry as well as assist them in creating opportunities for recognition in the media. While our initial approach in 2006 was modest with only the participation of Quebec schools, we were highly encouraged by other schools across Canada when they approached us to expand this competition nationwide. Our headquarters are based in Montreal and therefore, we have chosen to host the finals in our city. Our talent pool in Canada is as vast as our country. If by doing this initiative, we bring to the forefront our local or national future stars, then we believe that our goal has been reached.