An overview of year five of Saskatchewan Fashion Week

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For fashion and jewelry designers, makeup artists and hairstylists, it was an opportunity to show and celebrate their creative talents. And for local fashion lovers, like stylist Vitori Vita, it was a chance to pull out all the stops and make a statement with eye-catching event attire.

“I love the creativity that all the designers have been showing off,” said the three-night attendee. “It was very fabulous!”

The 9,000-square-foot Designer Pop-up Shop, which was open to the public free of charge all three nights, offered a rare opportunity to purchase the work of an array of Saskatchewan designers under one roof. Sales were brisk all three nights.

“It’s awesome to be in Saskatchewan at such a high-level event,” said Saskatoon designer Rebecca King, who was making her SFW debut. “I love it … The only way I’ll do a show is if there’s a pop-up shop included with it – just that opportunity to sell right from the runway. People like it on the rack, but after the runway show, it’s like a mad mob every time.”

This was also the first time Saskatoon First Nations designers Marylou Mintram and Candace Atcheynum of Little Bow-Tihk have showcased things that they’ve created. “There’s a mix of emotions – from excitement to nervousness to excitement again,” said Mintram. “It’s just been thrilling to be a part of it.”

Two of fashion week’s biggest fans and supporters are Dr. Roberta McKay and Elmer Brenner, who sponsored this year’s Designer Pop-up Shop, as well as a two-day entrepreneur seminar prior to SFW for people in the artistic industry, to help them learn how to build their business. McKay and Brenner are also the founders of the SFW Fashion Forward Designer Award, which this year went to Hayley Clackson of Saskatoon for her NRTHRNTWNS Workshop menswear workwear “tailored to fit the lifestyle needs of the modern craftsman rather than the traditional tradesman.” Previous recipients include Riley Lawson in 2013, Janis Procyk of Prahsik in 2014, and Christina McFaddin of Year of the Ram in 2015.

The Fashion Forward Designer Award was created to help one designer each year develop his/her business plan and marketing strategy, pursue professional development and enhance their design portfolio.

Watching SFW evolve and develop over the past five years has been extremely gratifying, Brenner said.

“It gets bigger and better every year,” McKay said enthusiastically. “We’re so excited about how it’s growing, and about all the new people that are involved.”

Veteran Saskatchewan fashion designer Dean Renwick was in the audience all three nights, taking particular note of young designers he has mentored or collaborated with over the years.

“It’s like being a parent and watching your children go to school. Year by year, it gets better and better. And their grades only go higher and higher,” he said.

Renwick raved about his protege Janis Procyk of Regina (originally from Fillmore), who designs Prahsik menswear and womenswear. “Amazing! She’s one that’s really come out of her shell and stepped her game up quite a bit. Very, very impressive.”

Prahsik designs also impressed Brenner, who described the runway collection as “pretty edgy for a small-town girl.”

SFW co-founder Chelsea Petterson was equally impressed with Prahsik, marvelling at how the designer successfully transformed a collection of unique pieces into complete looks throughout a 20-minute runway finale set on Thursday night.

Both Petterson and SFW co-founder Candyce Fiessel included Prahsik designs in their SFW wardrobes.

SFW president and co-founder Chris Pritchard said the event is all about “helping make the art we love a career and not just a hobby” and providing a platform to showcase and market Saskatchewan designs.

Saskatchewan Fashion Week demonstrates that designers can achieve success in their home province, Fiessel noted. “They don’t have to go elsewhere to achieve their dream.”

“It’s been a wonderful experience,” said jewelry designer Cindy Kuster Orban of Alicious Designs, who created one of the chandeliers hanging over the SFW runway. “What I have found, just being a new designer, is how supportive designers are of each other. And they really have each other’s back … The competition is out. We’re really a kind, caring community in the (Saskatchewan) fashion industry.”Read more at:long formal dresses