Canada: The Big Looks
Women’s Wear Daily, Friday, May 10, 1986

Toronto – The recent five day festival of Canadian Fashion here packed in 24 shows… and countless inspirations. Spotted on the runway: everything from Victorian riding habits, turn of the century mourning outfits and Russian cassocks to familiar oversized Japanese looks and Sixties minis – plus lots of black. What was strong:

* Vancouver’s Mr. Jax with quality fabrics and rich color mixes.
* Toronto’s Pat McDonagh’s first fur collection for Yukon Fur with a striking mix of sophistication and whimsy.
* Mode Montreal’s contribution – particularly the collections of Hilary Radley, Roberty Krief and Claude Gagnon – all showing a strong European influence.

What seemed to be the biggest drawing card for some US retailers was not so much the fashion innovation but rather the technical detailing.

As Henry R. Brilliant, president of Brilliant Investments, a Dallas-based marketing firm and manufacturers representatives, put it: “Quality workmanship is produced here. Since it’s becoming harder to buy out of Europe due to the weakening dollar, Canada could at some point in the future supply the US market with what traditionally has been found abroad. I think it may happen here before it happens again in Europe.”

– Liz Gessner