Fashion Takes Action

The Eco-Couture Gala, Sept. 26, 2007 The following designers participated in the inaugural Fashion Takes Action, each creating 3 designs using SYKA’s soy, hemp, bamboo, organic cotton, tussah silk and extra fine merino wool. Click logos to open new website window.
	Not your stereotypical damsels in distress, Kelly Freeman and Rory Lindo are two babes out to kick some fashionable ass. The Toronto based design duo behind the dress label Damzels in this Dress ﬂaunts the sweet side of tarty with each new season; their dresses personifying the corruption of cute.
	Toronto based fashion designer Thien LE is an artist of many trades. Seven years ago, his natural talent for capturing line, colour, style and texture in his fashion creations raised celebrity eyebrows and captured media attention. His red carpet clients include, Polly Shannon, Wendy Crewson, Elisha Cuthbert, Leelee Sobieski and Tia Carrera.
	Canadian designer Farley Chatto works locally, rocks globally with superbly detailed, eye-popping men’s wear fashion. Whether creating costumes for Elton John’s AIDS fundraising concert in the UK or creating outﬁts for the opening of the new Libeskind/ Michael Lee Chin Crystal of the ROM, 38-year-old Chatto leads the fashion-forward pack.
	Ultra feminine and edgy looks deﬁne the R o s a c o s t a n z o label. Rosa’s design sensibilities have attracted celebrities such as Tara Spencer Nairn, Miriam McDonald, Wendy Crewson and Lauren Holly. She has received celebrated press from Elle Canada, FT, Fashion File, ETalk and ET Canada.
	JUMA is a fashion design company specializing in womens’ contemporary ready-to-wear, active sportswear and accessories. Founded in Toronto, Canada in 2003, the eponymous label JUMA developed by Alia & Jamil Juma can be found in various locals around the world including Canada, United States and Japan.
	Annie Thompson lives and creates in Toronto, Canada with a studio and boutique in the Queen Street West Art and Design district. Annie uses thread as her paint brush to create distinctive garments and accessories. She is extremely proliﬁc and pushes boundaries with the use of fabric both new and recycled. Her work, though contemporary, transcends trends; it is highly dynamic and architectural, yet wearable, long lasting and deﬁnes modern classic construction.
	A men and women’s eco collection. Urban lines evolve classic shapes while organic futurism is found in the detials. Thieves’ infuses aesthetics cultivated from Sonja den Elzens’s love of design, tailored fashion and high end street fashion. Clothing helps form our identity and individuality as we would like to share it with the world.
	Fashion designer Ula Zukowska has been known to fashion-conscious Torontonians since her unforgettable red-burlap pieces of her very ﬁrst collection made a splash on the runways of Fashion Week in 1994. She now designs for her very own Toronto-based ULA2 Inc.
	Pat McDonagh is a dynamic designer who is always a step ahead of the pack, yet never so far ahead that we lose touch with her. Her designs are youthfully Avant-Garde, but still retain an earthy, classic feel, often tinged with romanticism.
	Sarah Nicol is based in Toronto, Canada and works full time for Izzy Camilleri Design. The experience she garnered with Izzy has given her an invaluable opportunity to develop her skills, while learning every aspect of the design business. Recently, Sarah won this year’s Toronto Fashion Incubator’s 2007 New Labels competition with her debut collection entitled, “Mi Amore … A Victoriana Love Tragedy.”