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Fashion

Seven great Canadian designers you can really get behind

Looking to buy local? Read on to find out more about Canada’s home-grown designers that you should know about now
Seven great Canadian designers you can really get behind

Smythe

These ladies sure know their jackets. Friends Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe first created their equestrian-style blazers in 2004 and the line has since been seen on the backs of countless Hollywood celebs. Best known for their jackets, the brand has also recently ventured into tops and leathers. A military style camel winter jacket is the ultimate in luxe outwear and one of the line’s showstoppers.

Smythe jackets

Line Knitwear

John Muscat and his partner and long-time friend Jennifer Wells founded the line in 2000 with a few luxe knit pieces and have been expanding ever since. From soft cashmere turtlenecks to cashmere wraps and long draped pieces, the designs are both unique and wearable, suiting every aesthetic. Their show-stopping sweaters took knitwear to a whole new level for the fall season.

Best Canadian designers

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Pink Tartan

Created by Kimberley Newport-Mimran, this collection consists of classic preppy pieces that are super wearable alongside elegant suiting with the occasional trend added into the mix. The Niagara Falls native started Pink Tartan in 2002 and has since garnered international acclaim. The fall collection saw the use of fur add-ons and black mixed with creamy angelic shades.A white dress with front seaming is a stand-out in a sea of black this season.

Best Canadian designers

Denis Gagnon

Channeling the look and feel of European couture, these edgy designs have a big following in both Montreal (the designer’s home) and worldwide. Using buttery-soft leathers and body-con fabrics, Gagnon's futuristic aesthetic is complemented with unique materials like fringe and metals.The ensembles on his fall runway used heavy amounts of fringe to keep the leather playful.

Seven great Canadian designers you can really get behindLuc Lavergne and Kim Payant

David Dixon

This Toronto designer is well-known for his signature silhouettes. Designing for a nouveau femme fatale, Dixon knows how to channel elegance into his fabrics and has created lines for Barbie and his own collection that are polished and made to last.Dixon incorporated metallics to update his cocktail dresses alongside a staple collection of party frocks this fall.

Great Canadian designers

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Rita Liefhebber

This former fashion editor, stylist and model broke into the design scene only a few years ago and has created quite the buzz. Her collection focuses on clean lines and textures, playing with velvet, linen and mohair. Knit basics in muted pastel colours and beautiful jersey pieces mixed in with tapered leather pants give this line a party-girl-meets-socialite look that is sure to make this new designer a global success. This hand-knit bias tunic exhibits her tasteful aesthetic of sexy but subtle ensembles. 

Great Canadian designers

Greta Constantine

Known for creating luxe jersey dresses, designing duo Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong have made their mark on the Canadian fashion scene. Their mantra of fashion meets utility holds true in their accessible line of womenswear that started in Toronto. Pickersgill, a former stylist, and Wong, a costume designer, combined their expertise to create a unique lineup of styles and have even ventured into menswear with their newest label Ezra Constantine.

A soft jersey dress is indicative of the duo’s aesthetics around draping. 

Great Canadian designers

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