With the start of a new year comes new resolutions, new goals and, of course, new trends. While it’s hard to predict what will take off in popularity, trend forecasters have already made their bets on what to expect from the fashion world, and the buzz suggests we can anticipate mix and match pieces, lots of colour and, with a rise in sustainability, more reworked clothes and handmade pieces. Here are five trends you can look out for on the streets of Toronto in 2023 (and some you can find right in your closet!).
Colourful, unexpected knitwear
In 2023 we’re anticipating knitwear that’s extra colourful and all about mixing and matching. Toronto brand Pella Wool, made by hand by childhood friends Kelly and Petra, is every Torontonian’s inspiration for knitwear right now. The brand’s product line consists of hand knit skirts made from recycled jersey yarn, wool shag bags, mohair sweaters and a cropped knit sweater (the “krit knit”), which is made from over 15 types of yarn.
Aleks Roxborough of Toronto shop Feelings Vintage (@shop.feelings.vintage) knows handmade knit items are becoming increasingly popular, evidenced by the fact that she gets requests for more knitwear every day. She anticipates unexpected items and colours in the new year, like her own handmade “knot a top(s)” which span about the length of a bandeau. Right now she’s working on a pair of knit chaps.
Furry accessories
According to Arianna Stalteri of Vaughan-based shop Batch Vintage, fuzzy and furry garments are coming in hot and we can expect them in all forms of accessories. Get ready for big furry hats, furry purses and furry boots, which Stalteri’s good friend and Toronto style influencer Rebecca-Jo Dunham-Baruchel (@youthin.asia) has referred to as “monster stompers.” There’s no shortage of fur in the city. Vintage store Cloth of the Curb featured a pair of vintage fur boots in a recent story sale, and faux fur hats were recently in inventory at Shoppu at 896 College St.
Maximalism
Vogue-featured maximalist queen Sara Camposarcone says the maximalism esthetic will continue to thrive in 2023. She credits the increasing popularity to the rise of upcycling and repurposing old pieces into something wonderful and nostalgic, yet new. We’re talking lots of colours, layers, volume (think tulle) and eclectic accessories.
“I think there is an undeniable joy that maximalism brings to people of all ages, and with the continued experimenting I see in trying new things, stepping outside the box, being creative and just having fun with our clothing, I don’t see it slowing down any time soon,” says Camposarcone.
If Camposarcone is your 2023 fashion inspiration, look to Toronto unisex designer Ellie Sandbacka for bold prints and unique streetwear.
Avant-garde
A consistent opinion among Toronto clothing lovers is that next year’s fashion trends are making space for risk taking and unexpected combinations. Micro-trends come and go, but ultimately, there are less rules these days. Whether you want to adorn a mini skirt or an oversized whimsical silhouette, it’s all fair game. In 2023, we can anticipate more experimental and unorthodox fashion that comes from the heart. Iranian Toronto-based fashion designer Dorian Who produces slow-made, season-less, avant-garde streetwear using deadstock (past-season) materials. Her pieces feature beautiful patterns, puffy sleeves and wide legs, though her most recent collection was created to support women and justice for innocent people in Iran. The collection includes sweatshirts and tees adorned with the phrase, “Women. Life. Freedom.”
’90s rave wear
Rave and party culture has had a resurgence in Toronto, bringing with it rave apparel. Dance events hosted by local groups like Lotion Magazine, Money is Tight (@money_is_tight) and Sandwich District (@sandwich.district) have offered space for some seriously fun and movable fashion heading into 2023. Cloth of the Curb recently dropped a collection of ’90s deadstock rave wear featuring pieces from the now defunct magazine and streetwear brand TPHS (The People Have Spoken), which had a College Street storefront in the late ’90s. In particular, oversized cargos are having a moment — find your own at Throwback Vault on Queen Street West, or splurge on a high-end pair at Capsule in Yorkville.