Ukula, a quirky clothier, music-room, literary forum, quarterly magazine cum coffee shop located at 492 College St,, is committed to the exposure of all things hip and artsy. This was made manifest at recent event ‘Off The Beat’n Rack,’ a showcase featuring Toronto’s brightest fashion talent.
The small venue had an intimate feel, as if one could have literally reached out and brushed the models. Requisite techno accompanied the fierce glamazons workin’ it down the runway, strutting into the street to pause for admiring photographers and a gathered crowd of enthused locals.
The show kicked off with a collection from Label, a striking blend of tomboy chic, yuppie tailoring and sex appeal. Buttoned pencil skirts were juxtaposed with casual tees, demure, mannish pants matched with wild animal-print tubes and skin-tight slinky white tee-dresses slashed to the thigh. A series of contrasting prints were alternatingly nautical and militaristic in nature: rich blues, grey, khaki, red and white.
Next, a distinctive collection for men from Marcus Tripp. These styles were dominated by overbearing fur accessories, which stole the attention from a sophisticated set of classic, well-cut sweaters and pants in midnight hues of black, silver and blue. Ethically-minded NaMoDa followed, and if you thought eco-clothing meant hemp and flip-flops, think again. The brand employs eco-friendly organic fabrics cut in feminine shapes interrupted by surprising details, such as an unexpected flash of pattern on a pencil skirt.
Also abundant were the returning minis echoing the micro trend this season seen everywhere from Prada to Biba. This worked deliciously on a standout stunner-one iridescent buttercup gold shirt-dress.
All fashions were embellished with jewellery from Toronto local Biko Designs, whose draped clusters were particularly, er, charming. Sold in many local boutiques, Biko mixes vintage pieces with new materials such as brass, base metals and mother of pearl. Edgy Gems and Junk added an indie street flavour with bold-print unisex tees in brooding colours-100 percent hand-dyed, treated and printed. The funky patterns held a touch of biker nostalgia, featuring the fading icons of motorbikes, guns and decals.
The highlight of the evening was a collection from Common Cloth, a notable label of last fall’s Fashion Week. Fashionista sisters Melanie Talbot and Kristina Bozzo embrace paradox in their designs. The sexy-yet-practical pieces define the art of creating womanly, flowing shapes with an embedded yen for well-cut menswear. Fabrics were luxurious and delicate: high-waisted silk city shorts in deep electric-blue stood out, giving shimmer to an otherwise moody palette of charcoals. The collection also had a sporty vibe, mixing in hoodies with skin-clinging fabrics and leotard-like tops and dresses-inspired by the sisters background in dance.
Personal faves included tan and grey laceless lady-wingtips and the piece-de -resistance-an inky grey strapless-trapeze dress, whose metallic finish and pretty bow shimmered down the catwalk. If this first glance is anything to go by, Common Cloth will make a statement this spring.
