Sick and tired of the homogenous slew of reality competitions — excluding Project Runway — flying through your television’s airwaves? We sure are. Take a few minutes out of daydreaming about Tim Gunn as your own fairy godfather, and check out the contestants for this year’s FASHION POP event in Montreal. We’ve interviewed each designer, and will be featuring the winner in an upcoming issue, and if that isn’t enough POP for you, check out our features on previous winners Angie Johnson (issue 10) and By Thomas (issue 12).
REMY & MERCY by KAREN VAQUILAR
Where are you from? Where do you call home now?
I am originally from Edmonton, Alberta, but Montreal has been my home for the past two years.
What is the theme of your collection?
Carpenter / Military.
Do you find that your designs evolve or change much from the initial sketch to end product?
They change all the time. It’s fun to colour outside of the lines.
What was the first garment you ever made?
A pair of boxers I made in Grade 7 home-ec class.
If you could design the wardrobe for any fictional character, who would it be?
Spock.
What is the most difficult part of designing a collection?
Having only two hands.
Do you wear your own designs?
Absolutely.
What makes Montreal style and fashion different from other Canadian cities or American fashion?
The city is really youthful and playful — people feel free to do their own thing whether it’s trendy or not. Anything goes.
GENEVIEVE SAVARD
Where are you from? Where do you call home now?
I’m from Edmonton and have been living in Montreal for a year and a half.
What is the theme of your collection?
Magic.
Do you find that your designs evolve or change much from the initial sketch to end product?
I usually change designs while draping or drafting. I might come up with a better idea, or something doesn’t work one way so I try another way. I enjoy this process as much as the drawing and dreaming.
What was the first garment you ever made?
I can’t really remember what the first garment I made was, but in my high school fashion class we had to make our own prom dress. I skipped prom and got drunk with my best friend. The prom dress was never worn.
If you could design the wardrobe for any fictional character, who would it be?
Sookie Stackhouse. I’d make her many vampy sun-dresses in blood-dyed silk.
What is the most difficult part of designing a collection?
Deadlines. And working so much that you make yourself sick.
Do you wear your own designs?
I wear most of them quite a lot, but try not to think about myself so much when designing because it messes me up.
What makes Montreal style and fashion different from other Canadian cities or American fashion?
Montreal style? I don’t know, I don’t get out much. But I do think Canada could stand to be a little more brave, fashion-wise.
MAUDE NIBELUNGEN
Where are you from? Where do you call home now?
I’m from deep in the country. Home is really where I feel good. It changes a lot over time.
What is the theme of your collection?
Lost souls of Atlantis…
Do you find that your designs evolve or change much from the initial sketch to end product?
I don’t like to restrain myself much with a sketch, or planning too much. I usually have a picture or an idea in my head, and I’ll just start knitting, writing the pattern as I am executing it. It feels more natural to me that way. By just following what seems like the evolution of the piece, they almost become living creatures for me.
What was the first garment you ever made?
I made a lot of little things for my dolls and such since the age of 5. But the one I really reckon as the first was a beanie I made when I was 13. I took hundreds of little strings of yarn from a yarn ordering book and attached them all together to knit them.
If you could design the wardrobe for any fictional character, who would it be?
Probably a manga character.
What is the most difficult part of designing a collection?
Balance. I think it’s important that the collection feels wholesome — a bit of everything, in different ways — but still having all those elements matching together somehow.
Do you wear your own designs?
I used to. Back then I was only making pieces for myself. But as I have to design and produce more and more, I tend to prefer encouraging other designers by wearing their designs.
What makes Montreal style and fashion different from other Canadian cities or American fashion?
I don’t think there is a “set” look for Montreal fashion, and there’s a lot of diversity from one designer to another. We pick here and there, mix it all up, and make something else out of it — a bit European, a bit American, and end up with a totally different look.
interviews by Casie Brown
photography by Lindsey Fast
these interviews are great, i can’t wait to see the photos from fashion pop!
my favourite parts: Karen Vaquilar saying the hardest part of designing a collection is having only two hands, and wanting to design for Spock. And then imagining Genevieve Savard’s unworn prom dress.
very cool indeed
Maude is hot!