Toronto Fashion Incubator new labels winner announced After six months of competition,
Cheap Ralph Lauren Polo Shirts consultation and design, Alberta designer Sid Neigum won Toronto Fashion Incubator's New Labels Fashion Design competition Thursday night. He showed a collection of modern structured garments for Fall/Winter 2012 at the final runway challenge of the annual design competition for emerging Canadian talent. He went up against three other designers who had made it to the final round: an evening show in front of Toronto's fashion glitterati. The Canadian design industry is a tough one to withstand and is especially hard to conquer for designers just starting out. The national competition offers exposure, mentoring and the chance to show a full collection on a respected runway. Neither the industry nor competition is for the faint of heart. "We're looking for people who are serious about starting and launching a fashion business, " said Susan Langdon, executive director of TFI in the days before the show. She describes the competition, which began in 1992, as the original Project Runway. It has launched the careers of many noted Canadian designers and lines, including David Dixon, Juma and Todd Lynn. "I think it's a learning process and probably one of the most intense learning processes, period, " said Dixon, who judged the competition last night. For the 2012 competition, which also marks the 25th anniversary of TFI, honourary gala event chair and judge Suzanne Rogers donated $25, 000 to be awarded to the winner. This is the first year TFI is offering so much. It's an amount all four competitors could have benefitted from - putting on a runway show and producing product for interested buyers is not cheap. "It's just expensive to do this, it really is, " said Neigum. The prize gives him a foot up for next season.
Outlet Hackett Mens Polo Shirts "I can now buy all the equipment that I need. I can invest this in another collection. But there are benefits beyond winning. "They get to meet the judges quite personally, developing those kinds of relationships is so important to someone who's starting out in the business, " said Langdon. Some of the best of the industry provided guidance and feedback for the designers. Arie Assaraf, owner of TNT boutiques, offered a retailer's perspective; Flare magazine's Lisa Tant and Toronto Star fashion reporter Derick Chetty provided comments with an eye to editorial; Rogers spoke to the view of the fashion patron and enthusiasts; and Dixon offered a veteran designer's view. "They get, in very short time, an impact of knowledge and, if they're smart about it and they really pay attention to it, their chance to have a future is much higher, " said Assaraf. The designers showed impressive and varied collections. Fuchs and Aguiar of [blak]•i included handbags and other accessories in their showing, while Larrivée offered a dramatic conceptual backdrop to his coat collection. It was a tough decision for the judges who all agreed that it was anyone's competition going into Thursday's show. But in the end, Neigum, who also showed at Toronto Fashion week this year, was selected. "They all proved that they could do it and they all did it quite well, but unfortunately only one person can win, " said Rogers. "We decided to go with Sid because he's really fashion forward and he's a really hungry designer and hopefully this will help him out. " His clothes are already available in stores in New York and Hong Kong and he hopes to expand that reach in the coming moths. "All four of these people would be sold in a store, " said Chetty.
Cheap Ralph Lauren Mens Long sleeved Polo But the final decision had to be made, said Chetty. "He would benefit the most. He's ready. "