FAT will surely bring these eight intriguing designers out of their shells

Toronto’s Alternative Fashion Week, also known as FAT, will take place April 26 to 29 at 99 Sudbury Street, and we just can’t wait for the smoke machines, whimsy, mini concerts and try-hards with PVC. All right, we may skip the smoke and PVC, but FAT is always an opportunity to see wildly creative designers who may otherwise feel bogged down by the bureaucracy (and price tag) of LG Fashion Week. On this year’s roster, we look forward to seeing Heidi Ackerman’s inventive silhouettes, last year’s New Labels winner Anastasia Lomonova and, of course, Colleen Booth’s entire collection of pajamas. (Yes, pajamas.) See the gallery below for selections from this year’s crop of left-of-centre designers.