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On April 27th Toronto Men’s Fashion week, aka TOM, held its first ever national press conference in Montreal at the Windsor Hotel. TOM is the 8th menswear fashion week in the world after Milan, Paris and London showcasing established and emerging Canadian menswear designers and brands exposing their work and talent to buyers, media and fashion enthusiasts at an international level. This initiative aims to stimulate the fashion industry and the economy. Amongst present Montreal designers at the press conference that will be presenting their Spring/Summer 16 collections in Toronto, CAFA award Best menswear designer winner Philippe Dubuc, Alan Ta from Just Ta Designs that we met last summer at the NDustry launch party here, Diodati, Pedram Karimi, Hans Koechling and Finezza, which I enjoyed exchanging with team members.
The press conference also announced the return of the Emerging Menswear Designer Award, EMDA, in partnership with the Toronto Fashion Incubator to promote and inspire local talent to specialize in menswear. TOM also have philanthropic initiatives like MensFashion4Hope supporting Kol Hope Fund at SickKids.
“TOM is an affluent, sophisticated, sexy, irreverent, stylish man. He is also multi-racial and multicultural in his thinking approach. TOM* has a degree and is well educated. He loves to look good, eat out, shop and enjoy the great things in life. He is a professional, has a wonderful abode, loves to travel for business and pleasure. He is a big spender, but appreciates the value of wealth management and investments.” I met the official model of TOM and he kind of looks hot, George Clooney style. Ever since its launch, TOM was featured in GQ Brazil, Vogue Italia, Forbes, NBC, CBC News, etalk, WWD, The Globe And Mail.
Applications are currently open for emerging designers until June 1st and the top 5 will have the chance to present their work at TOM on August 21st and the winner will get a package of $10,000.00 and a one year membership at the Toronto Fashion Incubator. Here’s the link to apply as the more you show, your work, better are your chances of getting noticed by the public.
It recently came to my attention, that Montreal will have its own menswear fashion event from May 26th to May 28th. This fashion festival called Just For Him is a presentation by ArtMtl and will be featuring designers such as Just Ta Designs, Diodati, Nico Designs, Pascal Labelle, Theroux, Tristan, RW&Co, Jean Paul Fortin, Tom Tailor, Karv and XOOS. Accessories will also be part of the night with Guillotine, Maison Godefroi, Exorphe and Feri.
TOM runway photos: Courtesy of Toronto Men’s Fashion Week
Just for him photo via Just For Him