Iaphet Elli 
Vancouver Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025 showcased an exhilarating collection of designs from international talents. This year, we proudly invited and celebrated a vibrant group of emerging designers whose work pushed creative boundaries and captivated audiences. Each collection brought fresh perspectives, offering unique innovations that inspired both the local audience and the global fashion industry. The energy and joy embedded in these designs radiated throughout the event, making it a celebration of creativity and a beacon of inspiration for fellow designers.
Many collections showcased not only groundbreaking designs but also underscored a commitment to using fashion as a medium to challenge social and ecological issues through innovative concepts and eco-conscious practices. The designers demonstrated their mission to integrate inventive approaches while embracing their mission, revealing a profound depth of creativity and artistic expression. These new talents continue to shape the future of fashion, highlighting a significant shift in the industry’s landscape, and setting a precedent for future design with purpose.
The La Salle Collections: Bold, Unconventional Designs Brimming with Confidence and Beauty
At Vancouver Fashion Week, La Salle College dazzled audiences with a series of innovative collections that seamlessly blended revolutionary craftsmanship with bold, forward-thinking concepts. Each collection was a striking fusion of elegance and power, showcasing the unique perspectives of La Salle’s talented students. Themes of transformation, cultural wisdom, and self-expression were explored, with the students striving to inspire empowerment, resilience, and originality in their work.
From impeccable draping to masterful crochet, this group of emerging designers proved they are ones to watch. Trained in illustration, sustainable design, tailoring, and textile manipulation, these students consistently impressed both local and international audiences with their creativity and craftsmanship. Contemporary silhouettes paired with innovative fabric choices created a truly engaging and memorable runway experience. Among the standout collections, ReBirth captivated with its ethereal white palette, highlighting the intricate art of crochet. The Dragon Lady Collection seamlessly blended technology and sustainability, while showcasing strong, confident designs. Somaya Ahmadi’s work, inspired by traditional Afghan craftsmanship, featured flawless embroidery, needlework, and textile manipulation. Visionary, by Anahita Heydari, captured themes of romance, transformation, and authenticity, weaving these emotions into every detail of the collection.
The provocative L’Allumeuse collection stunned with its daring designs, exploring the themes of love and chaos. Taraneh Tadayon, an exceptional illustrator and designer, presented Divine Fusion, a collection inspired by Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, combining elegance with power. Indonesian designer Valery Natasja Wongsari’s The Ballad of Thalassa: The Ocean’s Grace evoked the tranquil beauty of the ocean, with harmonious drapery that accentuated the female form and reflected the light of spring and summer.
With their incredible talent and dedication, La Salle’s designers left a lasting impression, proving their place on the global fashion stage.
The Bani Artesanal Collection: Marbles at Careyes
At Vancouver Fashion Week, the Bani Artesanal collection captivated the audience with its stunning designs inspired by the breathtaking beaches and vibrant architecture of Careyes. The silhouettes reflect the region’s striking structures, while the colors echoed the rich tones of the sea and coastal landscape. Taking cues from the intricate patterns found in marbles, they seamlessly blended colors to create unique textures. Each piece is handcrafted by skilled artisans from Oaxaca, using traditional pedal looms and sustainable, recycled threads. This collection celebrates the harmonious blend of craftsmanship, nature, and contemporary design.
The Marbles at Careyes collection continues this theme, merging traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. They collaborated with talented artisans who were ready to explore new horizons, encouraging them to innovate and experiment. Standout pieces included fringe dresses featuring intricate patterns woven on traditional pedal looms, as well as beach-inspired men’s clothing that combines casual and couture elements. This collection represents a journey of pushing the boundaries of artisanal techniques, resulting in fresh and unexpected creations that fuse heritage with modernity.
The ILLA Collection: A Journey of Transformation Through Artful Design
At Vancouver Fashion Week, the ILLA Desert Collection mesmerized attendees with its stunning craftsmanship and artistic vision. The centerpiece, the “Desert Flower” Collection, draws inspiration from the designer’s transformative travels across the vibrant landscapes of India and Africa. This exquisite collection showcases an array of luxurious textiles, including supple leather, flowing silk, breathable bamboo, soft cotton, elegant linen, and sustainable hemp. Each piece is meticulously crafted with premium silk and fine Egyptian cotton threads, ensuring an unparalleled tactile experience. The design philosophy embraces movement and fluidity, evident in the soft, flowing silhouettes that celebrate the body’s natural grace. Muted hues softly blend with striking accents of mint green, lilac, and pink, creating a dynamic visual palette that exudes both tranquility and vibrancy. Adorned with intricate appliqué details and showcasing exceptional handwork, each garment reflecting the designer’s deep-rooted couture influences and rigorous training. This collection is not just clothing; it’s a celebration of culture, artistry, and the transformative power of fashion.
Lapin: Eco-Couture Redefined at Vancouver Fashion Week
Vancouver Fashion Week showcased the enchanting eco-couture label Lapin, which is dedicated to using responsibly sourced fur. For the first time outside of New Zealand, designer and furrier Jane Avery presented the ‘Lapin Collection.’ This collection featured remarkable handmade coats and jackets that combine exquisite fabrics with wild rabbit fur from New Zealand’s South Island high country.
Lapin was created out of a love for the stunning landscapes of Aotearoa, New Zealand, and a desire to transform the fur of rabbits—an overabundant and environmentally harmful introduced species—into a conscious choice for those seeking the warmth and luxury of fur. Each finished piece from Lapin tells a story, incorporating natural materials like wool and silk, along with textiles sourced from family collections and beautiful vintage finds from around the globe, all showcased at Vancouver Fashion Week.
Bunny Clothing “Lios”: A Spiritual Journey at Vancouver Fashion Week
At Vancouver Fashion Week, Lios captivated the audience with a stunning collection rich in themes of faith and tradition. This enchanting line masterfully intertwines romantic aesthetics with a deep spiritual resonance. Vintage-inspired floral dresses come alive, embellished with intricate images of saints that evoke a sense of reverence. Delicate lace blouses, adorned with elegant crucifixes, add a touch of grace and sophistication.
Each accessory, from rosary-inspired necklaces to intricately designed blessed medals, served as a poignant reminder of heritage and devotion. The collection pays homage to Sarahi Ramirez’s childhood, reflecting the values of belief and the power of dreams that her upbringing instilled in her.
Every piece is thoughtfully crafted to embody the essence of beauty and spirituality, inviting wearers to forge a deeper connection with their own faith and traditions. Each garment not only tells a story but also inspires a personal journey of reflection and reverence.
The Dodot Collection: A Tribute to Memory and Emotion Through Couture
Dodot mesmerized the audience at Vancouver Fashion Week with their innovative collection. Inspired by the tagline “do dot,” the collection reinterpreted the charm of dot patterns in a way that resonates deeply with humanity. This collection emphasized the unique presentation of dot patterns on the garments. Featuring jackets and trousers designed with hole patterns that resemble dots, as well as layered dot designs. Additionally, the pieces incorporated various dot sizes within the same textiles, creating striking combinations.
Dotted fashion has roots dating back to prehistoric times, when people used pigments to adorn their bodies. This rich history was beautifully showcased throughout the event,
