A bi-annual celebration that was once considered to be the leading fashion event in Canada is on hiatus.
For the last 20 years, Toronto Fashion Week celebrated Canadian fashion, arts, and culture by allowing local designers to present their work to the world on chic catwalks across Yorkville. But on Tuesday, TFW organizers stated that they will be rethinking their platform.
An announcement about Toronto Fashion Week. pic.twitter.com/lvN04Yejro
— Toronto Fashion Week (@tofashionwk) January 14, 2020
“In order to best support the needs of the fashion community here in Canada, we’ve made the very difficult decision to pause production of our biannual event in order to rethink the platform and focus on how best to engage the industry, support designers and resonate with consumers across the country,” the organizers said in a Tweet.
“We remain steadfast in our resolve to continue to passionately support the Toronto community and champion the Canadian industry overall, as well as nurture the relationships we have built and maintained since the inception of Toronto Fashion Week, twenty years ago.”
“Toronto Fashion Week® to Rethink Platform” canceling this upcoming season of runway presentations in Yorkville in early February. #toronto #fashionweek
— Glen Baxter (@GlenBaxterTO) January 14, 2020
Toronto Fashion Week was founded in 1999 by the Fashion Design Council of Canada, a non-profit co-founded by Pat McDonagh and Robin Kay. The event was used as a means to showcase Canadian fashion to the international stage by giving designers access to critical media attention and buyers. It became a major hit in the industry, propelling brands such as Joe Fresh and drawing attention to Indigenous designer Lesley Hampton’s inclusive designs.
The stunning finale at @LesleyHampton’s #TOFW show tonight. #torontofashionweek #lesleyhampton #spring2020 pic.twitter.com/fZbXuMwSLb
— Toronto Fashion Week (@tofashionwk) September 6, 2019
By 2012, TFW was sold. And a series of sponsorship withdrawals led to the demise of the once prestigious show.
Social media reaction is mixed, with some trying to rally up local fashionistas to collaborate and “future proof” the industry.
Canadian fashion is stronger united. Let’s collaborate on a local & global strategy to future proof our industry @cafawards @IFWtoronto @TorontoFashion @vanessacraft @BernadetteMorra @Laura_deCarufel @FTAorg @caf_apparel @VanFashionWeek @DrBenBarry @AFW_fashionweek
— INLAND (@made_inland) January 14, 2020
Others are sad to see the legendary show go — but are hoping for a comeback.
It will, undoubtedly, be back, in some way, shape or form. Toronto fashion week has 9 lives! https://t.co/tZwslrq9MR
— Madelyn Chung (鍾舒華)✨ (@madelynchung) January 14, 2020
While some believe this represents the demise of the fashion industry as we know it, a sign that fast fashion has somehow replaced quality.
Canadian designers showing at Toronto Fashion Week were never part of the fast fashion industry though. Quite the opposite. They deserve our support.
— Glen Baxter (@GlenBaxterTO) January 14, 2020
Glen Baxter, a former media strategist at Toronto Fashion Week, tweeted: “Canadian designers showing at Toronto Fashion Week were never part of the fast fashion industry though. Quite the opposite. They deserve our support.”