ALEX S YU Celebrates 10 Years of "Contemporary Women's Wear for the Everyday Dreamer" At Van Fashion Week 2024

Alex has treated Vancouver Fashion Week attendees to 10 years of fabulous collections, each a froth of brilliant colour and dynamic stories. He invited us all to celebrate, first and then dazzled us with this season's collection. He and Jamal Abdourahman, Founder and CEO of Vancouver Fashion Week, were interviewed on Global News Morning. They supported emerging and established Designers, local and international, and the week long event as the perfect platform to showcase design talent. The ALEX S YU woman is actively pursuing her dreams and dresses to work, play and travel. Her clothing is both formal and informal but always full of colour, style and statement. More information via his website here. Oh, and by the way, when Alex is at Vancouver Fashion Week, everyone wears his brand! We celebrate your success, Alex S Yu! I have written about Alex many times and to celebrate another one of those 10 years, here is another colourful post.

EMMA IRELAND DESIGNS WINS THE SUE RANDHAWA AWARD AT VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK OCT 22-27, 2024

Emma Ireland Shepherd is the Fashion Programs Manager at Blanche Macdonald Centre and is also a full time Instructor, there. Educated in New York, she brings her design training and superb creative talent to work every day, as well as creating her own colourful, whimsical collection, "Love Letters To Girlhood" which debuted at Vancouver Fashion Week Day 1, Oct 22. 

Think hot pink and red hearts and stars, and a nod to the past, but these are styles easily worn now. Plaids, checks, hearts and bows, round collars, flared pants, frills, swing coats and detailed accessories salute youth, femininity, energy and fun. 

Emma won the Sue Randhawa (The Optical Boutique) Award, this season at Vancouver Fashion Week. Congratulations to Emma for her beautiful collection and for her mentorship and support for emerging Designers, here and everywhere she takes her fabulous Design Talents. 

See more about the scholarship via my interview with Sue Randhawa here. 

ARTEMISIA HWANG: FROM ITALY TO VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK - AN INTERVIEW

I was very happy to find that Artemisia was returning to Van Fashion Week #vfwss23! Even though she was in a huge rush to travel and bring her new collection to the runway, she enthusiastically responded to my questions:

Q: Why did you choose Italy for your Fashion Studies?

A: It all starts with the influence of my drawing teacher HATONG ZHAO, who learned oil painting in Florence, Italy. He taught me how to sketch in the Italian methods, with a lot of patience and powers of observation. He taught me so much about Italian Art and Fashion and so I went there to learn even more.

Q: How do Opera and Architecture influence your designs?

A: Opera is a comprehensive Art. It combines Music, Art, Literature, Dance, etc. Architecture is an eternal Art. Opera and Architecture both embody a strong cultural heritage. They help me to create a combination of both my Chinese Culture and Italian Culture in my designs,

Q: Can you see your work in Stage, Television and Movies?

A: Not yet. I believe on day, I will have chances to contribute to and collaborate with all of these, one day.

Q: Where can buyers find you? 

A: Recently, I encourage people to shop online. Beautiful handbags and clothes are here.

This is Artemisia, in one of her colourful silk dresses. She designs a special bag for each one. I admire her for her ability to study, travel and design and develop a sound business plan. When I think of her, I think of music and architecture and being forever young, Thanks for a gorgeous runway show, at Fashion Week #vfwss22.

Official Instagram: artemisiahwang

Personal Instagram: artemisia.hwang

Online Store: www.artemisiahwang.com

KOME CLOTHING BY KJAER PEDERSEN - TWO PERSPECTIVES BY DIANNA DRAHANCHUK AND COLLEEN

Dianna D. has been a frequent guest writer, here, and has a keen eye for runway shows. Kjaer, very kindly added Dianna to her guest list as we both know KOME, well and wanted to be there for her first fabulous show Van Fashion Week #vfwss23. 

Dianna's Perspective

Kome Clothing paraded three fashion themes down the runway: embellished / upcycled denim clothing and boots, ethnic inspired outfits for men as well as women, and flowing transparent robes, all topped by jaunty hats. Strong exciting colours like deep sea green, rich sunflower yellow and bright sky blue made for a very pleasing display. One can hardly wait for next spring to show them off as Randy did as she wore a Kome robe to this first night of Van Fashion Week for Spring 2023. This was Kjaer Pedersen's first Van Fashion Week show and we sincerely hope to see more of her work at future fashion events.

Colleen's Perspective

What I love about KOME is that everyone can wear it and that is looks beautiful from the back as well as at the front. Kjaer designs clothes with panache and detail. Each piece is unique and is embellished with color, ties, and a variety of pattern and cut combinations. I think the free spirit feeling her work inspires her models as well as her many customers. KOME offers a wide range of informal and formal wear and many accessories. Congratulations on your first show Van Fashion Week, Kjaer! No doubt more of us will be wearing this gorgeous line, next season.