4 Finalists, 1 Winner at The TFI (Toronto Fashion Incubator) New Labels 2013 Fashion Design Competition

It was an honour to be invited to the TFI (Toronto Fashion Incubator) New Labels 2013 Fashion Design Competition on Tuesday at the Carlu.  Not only did I finally reconnect with my fashion designer friends, I also had the chance to see the new faces in the Canadian fashion industry and their incredible creations. This year the Toronto Fashion Incubator partnered up with Target for the annual New Labels Fashion Design Competition. 4 finalists of this 6-month contest were chosen to showcase their collection at Tuesday’s runway show gala, where over 700 potential buyers and partners were present. The ultimate winner of the competition- Sarah Stevenson received a $25,000 cash award from Suzanne Rogers, a full-page feature in FLARE Magazine and the opportunity to design an exclusive collection for TARGET stores across Canada in 2014.

Sarah Stevenson Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels (photo credit: George Pimentel)

Sarah Stevenson (winner of tfi New Labels 2013) photo credit: George Pimentel

Sarah Stevenson’s collection was inspired by Dutch still life paintings from the 17th century Baroque period. She beautifully expressed the art style through detailed laser-cut fabrics and original floral prints. The fabrics she used were mainly silk satin, silk chiffon and wool. The colours she chose were mainly black and white with pops of red and a hint of deep pink, yellow, and orange. The prints were inspired by “Still Life with Flowers & Fruit“, a painting by Northern Netherlands’ still life painter Rachel Ruysch who specialized in painting flowers back in the late 17th century and early 18th century.

“I was inspired by Dutch Still Life Paintings from the baroque period, specifically by the work of artist Rachel Ruysch. I painted a series of images inspired by one of her paintings “Still Life with Flowers & Fruit” and then transferred them onto silk. I also worked with a laser cutting technique to capture the dark/light contrasts that were evident in the painting & characteristic of the baroque period.” said Sarah.

“Still Life with Flowers and Fruit” by Rachel Ruysch

Other finalists include Paria Shirvani, Christopher Paunil, and 7/31 (Seven Thirty-one).

More about The Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI)…
The Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) is an award-winning non-profit organization that helps fashion entrepreneurs in Canada to achieve their goals by developing the creative and professional capacity they need to succeed. TFI is the world’s first fashion incubator and has fostered many of Canada’s top fashion designers such as David Dixon, Pina Ferlisi, Todd Lynn, Arthur Mendonça and Sid Neigum.

For more information about the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI), please visit: www.fashionincubator.com

Suzanne Rogers at TFI new labels gala 2013

Dina Pugliese at TFI new labels gala 2013

Suzanne Rogers’ 15 year old daughter at TFI new labels gala 2013

Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas) at TFI new labels gala 2013

Glen Baxter (left) at TFI new labels gala 2013

stacey mckenzie at TFI new labels gala 2013

Brian Gluckstein & Sylvia Mantella (middle) at TFI new labels gala 2013

David Dixon at TFI new labels gala 2013

Gabrielle Miller (Corner Gas) & Stacey Mckenzie at TFI new labels gala 2013

Sarah Stevenson (winner of tfi New Labels 2013)

Sarah Stevenson (winner of tfi New Labels 2013)

Sarah Stevenson Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels

Sarah Stevenson Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels

Sarah Stevenson Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels

Paria Shirvani Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels

Paria Shirvani Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels

Christopher Paunil Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels

Christopher Paunil Fall/Winter 2013 collection for tfi new labels

7/ 31 Seven Thirty-one Fall/Winter 2013 at TFI new labels gala 2013

7/ 31 Seven Thirty-one Fall/Winter 2013 at TFI new labels gala 2013

Sarah Stevenson (winner of tfi New Labels 2013)

“Still Life with Flowers and Fruit” by Rachael Ruysch

Left: Christopher Paunil (finalist)

Suzanne Rogers and her daughter (middle)

(photo credit: George Pimentel)
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