The 2011 Cashmere fashion show featured touchably soft cotton in support of breast cancer awareness

The 2011 Cashmere fashion show featured touchably soft cotton in support of breast cancer awareness

Carrie Hayes, Jason Matlo and L’Autre Couture (Images: Cashmere)

When we think of a toilet paper fashion show (though event organizers are careful to refer to it as “bathroom tissue”), our minds immediately jump to memories of bachelorette parties with brides-to-be begging brutes to buy the toilet paper veils they’ve crafted. We can’t erase that image from our minds, but the eighth annual Cashmere toilet paper fashion show went a long way to prove that toilet paper isn’t just for the washroom or soon-to-be divorcées—it can be a dress, a necklace, a bag or a hat. Fashion editors and curious onlookers gathered at the AGO’s Baillie Court to scope out 100 per cent Cashmere toilet paper dresses and suits made by Canadian designers in support of breast cancer awareness. Unfortunately, these pieces aren’t treated with any sort of weatherproofing, so it would be impossible to wear any of them in the rain, but Cashmere will donate 25 cents to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for every pink product purchased in stores—that’s in addition to the dollar it’ll donate for every vote on its website. Check out the toilet paper designs from Jason Matlo, Philip Sparks, Brose, Franco Mirabelli, Rita Tesolin, Carrie Hayes and more after the jump.

The event started with the honorary chair and breast cancer survivor, Canada AM’s Beverly Thomson, introducing the collection before a gymnast flitted around the catwalk doing an impressive ribbon dance. Then came the fashion: Sparks created a cross-hatched shirtdress; Vancouver designer Matlo showed a strapless number with tiny pleated detailing; and both Hoax Couture and José Manuel St-Jacques were inspired by Gossamer for some reason. We were surprised by how much everything looked like actual clothing, including the Farley Chatto–designed headpieces that looked like they were the result of a serious bathroom incident. As the show drew to a close, models performed their final walk clutching 12-packs of Cashmere in case anyone forgot why they were there.