D Moment: SS15 Collection Previews from Montreal Up-and-Comers.

(Posted on Wordpress October 22nd, 2014. And this is the last one to be shipped over here from Wordpress.)

Last Wednesday, I made it out to Rosemont, for day two of the second annual D Moment event, hosted by Mode Montréal. I missed the first day as I was busy bouncing from one Koodo store to the next, until someone finally sent me broken phone in for repair. This is also why the photos seen here are not at par with the ones I usually post. It takes a lot to embarrass me but pulling out the Galazy III Mini I had borrowed from Koodo to take photos at a fashion event was, at the very least, uncomfortable.

D Moment provides local up-and-coming fashion designers with an opportunity to provide media and other spectators with a glimpse at their SS15 collections. I couldn't stay for the entire event but I did get a chance to check out what Impair, Andrea Montle and Nico had to show. 

The media lounge

Impair designer Stephanie P. Grenier, kicked off her show with an artistic set-up that left some disgruntled but most entertained. Upon entering the darkened room, our ears filled with a dramatic, classical piece (one of my conservatory instructors just rolled about in his grave at my lack of memory) and we spread about, not really knowing where the catwalk was or what to expect. Then, perfectly timed to the music, a spotlight lit up a model who had been standing in the dark, waiting for her moment. We all rushed to her and snapped away, me cursing the phone in my hands. She posed a few times, allowing us to carefully observe the garments and paper accessories she wore and then, lights out.

Impair

Impair

And another spotlight turned on at the other end of the room, featuring another model, and so on. By the fourth model, some photographers were openly grumbling, as they lugged their enormous DLSRs about but, in the end, the applause was enthusiastic and everyone got the chance to closely examine more of Impair's clothing, as a traditional runway show began right after this installment.

Impair

Impair

Andrea Montle was up next, with an avant garde collection of pieces reminiscent of my cyber goth days, with artificial silhouettes created from a chaotic assembling of structured strips of fabric. It was fun to see someone step outside the box and clearly do what she herself loves, regardless of trends.

andrea montle

Out of the three shows I saw, Nico garnered the heartiest applause. He presented us --twice-- with five beautifully constructed and impeccably styled outfits and did so in a simply but artistically choreographed way. Nico boldly combined jeweled buttons with on a floral print men's blazer, incited more than a few oohs and aahs with his dressy drop-crotch women's trouser and he definitely hit the mark with his perfectly tailored navy blue trench coat with navy trim, which featured classic trench features but buttoned cuffs, for a new take on it all.

Nico

Nico

Nico

Nico

As I was standing about in the media lounge with a new and delightful friend, between shows, I couldn't help but overhear someone from a soon-to-be-launched magazine loudly proclaim that it was all simply taking too long and that, when he attended Fashion Week in London, it wasn't like this at all. It was one show after another and everyone hustled. London. Fashion. Week. Dorothy certainly wasn't in Kansas anymore, if he was coming to this event with a bar set that high, not to mention apples and oranges. Yes, it was a lengthy affair and yes, we were disappointed in how few people were there but what exactly would you have local designers do, now that we've been stripped of our own Fashion Week? It takes time and financial resources and nerves of steel to put on a fashion show, let alone organize an event that features several of them over the course of two days. I think the people who dedicated their energy and time to this event should be applauded. Chapeau! And thank you for setting the stage for so many talented individuals; 2015 will most certainly be an interesting year where local fashion is concerned.

To the gentleman who stage whispered his lamentation of London Fashion Weeks gone by, I thank you providing me with fodder for my next opinion piece!

Posted in: andrea montle,dmoment,fashion design,fashion show,impair,montreal fashion,nico,quebec fashion,ss15