Jeremy Laing, Ruffian, David Szeto and Jean-Pierre Braganza to present at “the ShOws” this year

Jeremy Laing, Ruffian, David Szeto and Jean-Pierre Braganza to present at “the ShOws” this year

Jeremy Laing among designers to show at “the ShOws” (Image: Jason Hudson)

If our morning subway commute is any indication, Toronto likes things slow, which is why it comes as no surprise that our fashion “week” will be nearly three weeks long this season—it begins with “Rogue Fashion Week,” continues with Toronto Fashion Week (closing March 16) and ends with “the ShOws” (March 19 and 20 at the Ritz-Carlton). This is the second season for the ShOws, and once again they have some exciting talent lined up, including Jeremy Laing, Ruffian, David Szeto and Jean-Pierre Braganza. Here’s a bit of background information in case you’re having a “who is Arcade Fire?” moment: Laing’s a Toronto native and famed double-fister who typically shows in New York City to rave reviews here and abroad; Szeto is loved by Net-A-Porter; Ruffian has been featured in New York magazine, WWD, Italian Vogue, the New York Times and more; and Braganza, the only name returning from last season, wowed us and Style.com last time around. Sure, we’ll probably be exhausted from all the phony air kissing and fake camaraderie of Toronto Fashion Week, but these are four shows we’ll suck it up for. (But seriously, three weeks? Let’s get our act together.)