All The Highlights From FASHION Canada’s Relaunch Party Last Night

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Photograph by George Pimental

Here’s what went down behind the Design Exchange doors.

By FASHION Staff, Date February 13, 2020

Last night, an eclectic mix of the city’s most stylish came together at the Design Exchange on Bay Street to fête the relaunch of FASHION Canada as an all-inclusive brand aimed at all sizes, ages, ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations. Notable guests included Ladyfag, Skin, Vivek Shraya, Christina Schmidt, the Beckermans, Yasmin Warsame, Traci Melchor, The Rebel Mamas, Dorian Rahimzadeh, Suzanne Boyd, Mei Pang and Jacques Claude Esader.

“We love fashion, you love fashion and we love you!” Editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra declared to the crowd, after taking the mike from DJ Baby Girl. Creative and Fashion Director George Antonopoulos then introduced Tush, a duo he discovered on Instagram.

The CBC’s Nil Koksil, the Toronto Star’s Shinan Govani and Soho House’s Markus Anderson, who is part of Meghan and Harry’s inner circle, cheered on the steamy performance, before the dance floor was filled again with non-stop action. A disco ball and lasers by EPiQVision added to the fabulousness of the space.

The creative vibe was sparked from the get go with guests making their way through a neon-lit tunnel before reaching a blacklight installation by Bruno Billio on the stairway up to the party. The ‘gram-worthy space was a hit with a seemingly endless stream of guests staging their own photoshoots on the stairs throughout the night.

Inside the main party space, oversized images of each of our seven cover stars adorned one wall – providing a stylish backdrop to the nibbles from Oliver & Bonacini and Roll This Way Sushi that helped keep guests fuelled for a night of dancing.

The pink velvet BOSS lounge – where imagery from the brand’s newest campaign hung on the walls – was a happening destination providing guests with a chic place to sit and sip as they people-watched and took in the ambience.

Key moments were also created inside the event thanks to Diana VanderMeulen’s sculpture garden, florals by Jackie O and roaming models dressed in French Fetish Burlesque-inspired couture ensembles from Toronto-based brand Maison Chardon.

Drinks were flowing with beer from Stella Artois, wine from MezzaCorona and cocktails courtesy of Bulleit Bourbon, Don Julio Tequila, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Tanqueray No. Ten Gin and Ciroc Vodka. Guests stayed hydrated thanks to Vellamo Water.

Sweet tooths were also satiated via a FASHION-branded gelato stand from Love Gelato, and an immersive chocolate-smashing experience from CXBO Chocolates. Meanwhile, the canna-curious congregated in the dosist corner where the company informed many guests about their dose-controlled cannabis pens and range of mood options.