Toronto Fashion Incubator’s New Labels gala-competition breaks fresh talent

Canada isn’t short on talent, but it sure is lacking opportunities to showcase it. That’s why, when one comes up, we like to celebrate it. Coming April 14 to the Design Exchange is the annual version of America’s Got Talent, Toronto Fashion Incubator’s New Labels® competition, which pits young aspiring designers against each other for a prize of $10,000 in cash and design opportunities valued at $40,000. This year’s judging panel is a roster of fashion plates, including Lisa Tant from Flare, stylist Peter Papapetrou, Holt Renfrew’s Natalie Lecomte, former New Labels® winner Cynthia Florek, designer David Dixon and the Toronto Star’s Derick Chetty. The winner will also get a chance to design an outfit for Sears Canada (this lifts our spirits considerably, because new blood means we may never have to sit through a Jay Manuel show again). Tickets for the gala are $60 and can be purchased on-line from the Toronto Fashion Incubator.