Oscar de la Renta event raises $750,000 despite Canada being the “smallest fashion market in the world”
“Canada is a small market—probably the smallest fashion market in the world.” That’s Canadian fashion booster Robin Kay telling CTV why most big-name designers don’t travel here. Smallest fashion market in the world? Uh, OK. “We’re not big consumers of fashion and certainly not high fashion,” continued the head of the FDCC, whose job we thought it was to promote the fashion scene in Canada. “We’re just not part of the purchasing landscape.” Explain, then, the success of Suzanne Rogers’s fundraiser for SickKids on Tuesday night, which featured a fashion show from guest of honour Oscar de la Renta. The gala sold out 10 weeks in advance and raised $750,000; according to the Star, late ticket buyers were clamouring for the remaining $25,000 tables. Sounds like a pretty devoted fashion market to us—or at least devoted status seekers.
• Bringing glamour back [Toronto Star]
• De la Renta a rare treat in Canadian fashion scene [CTV]
I nominate Suzanne Rogers or even Barbara Atkin as the new head of the FDCC. I think we are all tired of hearing Kay sticking her foot in her mouth.
For someone that is supposed to promote the Canadian fashion industry, Robin Kay sure has her head up her ass. Time to retire with her botox and let someone with a passion for Canadian fashion take over.
As someone who works in fashion, I have to agree with Robin Kay. Suzanne Rogers event was supported by a very small group of people who would be fashion shoppers, or better, Holts shoppers.
The reason most fashion publications fail is lack of high end advertisers to support them. Stylists always complain how hard it is to get designer samples from abroad because the houses don’t think of us as a priority market. Meaning, we don’t buy the clothes, so why should they trouble themselves. This is a fact I have faced directly many times.
In a city like NY or Paris, it’s not just the wealthy that afford themselves designer clothes. Young people in Paris may not have an apartment bigger than the average powder room, they definitely don’t have cars and very few have credit cards. But they are wearing Chanel flats.
It’s a question of economy. In Toronto, a decent salary and good credit can usually get you at the very least an affordable (by international urban standards) condo. In Paris, New York, London, where most urban real estate starts in the millions, this is not possible. So priorities are different. It’s not that we don’t like, understand or covet high fashion, it’s just that given all the options we have for allocating our money, it’s not a priority. We go to Winners, not the Prada boutique.
As for Canadian fashion, most of my friends, when and if are looking to splurge (a rare occurrence) they will still look for a deal or sample sale on foreign designer clothes before they spend their money on local fashion.
Robin isn’t off the mark at all!
Walking around downtown Toronto shows how poorly Toronto women dress. Most are overweight and don’t give a damn about proper fashion and fit.
Canadians are down to earth and know our priorities. I rather donate to charity than to spend $3000 on a purse. I think we just have a better value system.