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]