Canadian Designers To Watch

AMANDA LEW KEE

the emerging designer

This year has been a big one for the recent university graduate who’s turned the heads of Canada’s fashion leaders.  Amanda Lew Kee’s career picked up during her final year in Ryerson University’s fashion design program. Her collection for the School of Fashion’s annual fashion show Mass Exodus got major buzz for it’s all-black, leather-filled dark looks. A few months later, 90210 star Shenae Grimes wore an outfit from Lew Kee’s collection to the MuchMusic Video Awards.

“I think the attention has been great. It’s time-consuming and exciting,” says the 21-year-old designer, who will also be featured on FashionTelevision in upcoming months.

Her spring/summer 2011 collection shocked fans and media during LG Fashion Week this past October for how dramatically different it was from her first collection. Fashionistas took their seats alongside the runway expecting a continuation of her first collection, but instead saw simple, ankle-length dresses flowing loosely close to the body, ultra-feminine skirt suits with exposed zippers, sheer sleeves and short, doll-like dresses. “I wanted this collection to be more feminine and romantic. I wanted to refine my work by not producing the same type of clothes,” says Lew Kee. The beige, grey and peach-pink fashion-forward collection was ironically inspired by a very fashion-absent environment, a trip to Muskoka’s cottage country in the summer.

The next step for this young innovator is to sell her label internationally. With the way her career is going, fashion capitals will soon be welcoming her with open arms.

EVAN BIDDELL

the established designer

Canadian fashion legend Evan Biddell launched his design career with a different and somewhat unconventional approach compared to Lew Kee. Self-taught, Biddell beat his designer competitors on Project Runway Canada in 2007. The 27-year-old has shown collections at LG Fashion Week in Toronto for the past three years, taking his designs to a more risky and fantasized place each season. “Every collection is an evolution of the last collection,” says the Saskatoon native who’s built a dramatic and moody reputation.

This season, fashion fanatics were sad to see Biddell’s name missing from the list of runway presentations scheduled for the week. Although he exhibited an introductory sequence collection, Seven, and select pieces from his Kingdom masterpiece at Fashion Week, Biddell partnered with Seven Continents for a fashion show in a mannequin factory. The inspiration behind the spring/summer 2011 collection: “Thinking back in time to epic quest movies like 300 and Gladiator,” says Biddell. For his upcoming collection for fall/winter, Biddell was resistant to revealing any sneak peeks, but says he’s got a surprise for his followers.

It doesn’t come as surprise to learn that these young Canadian stars have crossed paths. Biddell and Lew Kee met at the MuchMusic headquarters for a mini fashion competition. “I knew Amanda was going to go far when I met her,” says Biddell. As for aspiring designers, “I’ve been to the school of Biddell and have got to learn more about the business field in Toronto. Persistence and resilience are very important if you want to survive,” says Biddell.

AMANDA LEW KEE

the emerging designer

This year has been a big one for the recent university graduate who’s turned the heads of Canada’s fashion leaders.  Amanda Lew Kee’s career picked up during her final year in Ryerson University’s fashion design program. Her collection for the School of Fashion’s annual fashion show Mass Exodus got major buzz for it’s all-black, leather-filled dark looks. A few months later, 90210 star Shenae Grimes wore an outfit from Lew Kee’s collection to the MuchMusic Video Awards.

“I think the attention has been great. It’s time-consuming and exciting,” says the 21-year-old designer, who will also be featured on FashionTelevision in upcoming months.

Her spring/summer 2011 collection shocked fans and media during LG Fashion Week this past October for how dramatically different it was from her first collection. Fashionistas took their seats alongside the runway expecting a continuation of her first collection, but instead saw simple, ankle-length dresses flowing loosely close to the body, ultra-feminine skirt suits with exposed zippers, sheer sleeves and short, doll-like dresses. “I wanted this collection to be more feminine and romantic. I wanted to refine my work by not producing the same type of clothes,” says Lew Kee. The beige, grey and peach-pink fashion-forward collection was ironically inspired by a very fashion-absent environment, a trip to Muskoka’s cottage country in the summer.

The next step for this young innovator is to sell her label internationally. With the way her career is going, fashion capitals will soon be welcoming her with open arms.

EVAN BIDDELL

the established designer

Canadian fashion legend Evan Biddell launched his design career with a different and somewhat unconventional approach compared to Lew Kee. Self-taught, Biddell beat his designer competitors on Project Runway Canada in 2007. The 27-year-old has shown collections at LG Fashion Week in Toronto for the past three years, taking his designs to a more risky and fantasized place each season. “Every collection is an evolution of the last collection,” says the Saskatoon native who’s built a dramatic and moody reputation.

This season, fashion fanatics were sad to see Biddell’s name missing from the list of runway presentations scheduled for the week. Although he exhibited an introductory sequence collection, Seven, and select pieces from his Kingdom masterpiece at Fashion Week, Biddell partnered with Seven Continents for a fashion show in a mannequin factory. The inspiration behind the spring/summer 2011 collection: “Thinking back in time to epic quest movies like 300 and Gladiator,” says Biddell. For his upcoming collection for fall/winter, Biddell was resistant to revealing any sneak peeks, but says he’s got a surprise for his followers.

It doesn’t come as surprise to learn that these young Canadian stars have crossed paths. Biddell and Lew Kee met at the MuchMusic headquarters for a mini fashion competition. “I knew Amanda was going to go far when I met her,” says Biddell. As for aspiring designers, “I’ve been to the school of Biddell and have got to learn more about the business field in Toronto. Persistence and resilience are very important if you want to survive,” says Biddell.•