Toronto Fashion Week: Jeanne Beker and Bernadette Morra break the rules at Mercedes-Benz’s finalists show

By Jessica Flower | October 23, 2013

By Jessica Flower | 10/23/2013

Toronto Fashion Week: Mercedes-Benz Start Up finalists show

Toronto Fashion Week runs from October 21-26, in a large—and stylishly appointed—tent at David Pecaut Square. We’re posting full galleries from the buzziest runways. Here’s what trendsetters will be wearing in spring 2014.

DESIGNER

This year, the up-and-coming designers competing for the Mercedes-Benz Start Up mentorship program were Dreamboat Lucy, Faded Lifestyle, Eliza Faulkner Designs, Faded Lifestyle, HD Homme, Hip and Bone, Malorie Urbanovitch, Matière Noire and Pedram Karimi.

THE SCENE

Naturally, the most important people in the room were judges-slash-mentors Jeanne Beker, Fashion editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra, Holt Renfrew’s Ruth Ann Lockheart and former fashion week exec-director Robin Kay. Although the front row was full of media personalities (Glen Baxter and Stacey McKenzie among them), scattered cheering during the show suggested most of the audience were friends and family of the designers.

THE COLLECTIONS

Eliza Faulkner’s sporty pieces in dreamy pastel linen and Dreamboat Lucy’s mid-century-inspired ensembles were among our favourites, while Edmonton’s Malorie Urbanovitch used a shade of gold that was a pretty, unexpected hue for spring. The real shocker, however, came when the judges were too diplomatic to hash out a decision and named two winners. Taking home the prize were Urbanovitch, who was also a 2012 finalist, and newcomer label Matière Noire, designed by Montrealer Cécile Raizonville.

BEST PIECES

We already want one of Urbanovitch’s fuzzy knit tank tops. Raizonville’s favourite piece—and ours too—was a Depression era–inspired wool vest that would be perfect for transitioning from winter to spring.

SHOW CAPTION