Vancouver Fashion Week FW21 Recap

Vancouver Fashion Week FW21 Recap

By: Caitlyn Garrity / April 21, 2021

Vancouver Fashion Week celebrated its 36th season showcase this past weekend from April 16 to 18, 2021. The fall/winter showcases follow the spring/summer digital shows that took place last season.

As fastest-growing fashion week in the world and the only showcase that looks for international award-winning designers from over 25 capitals, Vancouver Fashion Week knows how to put on a good –virtual– show. In the spirit of representing a diverse pool of designers, this year’s fashion show saw a lot of different themes with a lot of extraordinary designs.

Designers included: Guerline Kamp, Cornelia Borgerhoff, CO-DE, ALCA and BLUE TAMBOURIN. Representing countries all around the globe, each designer showcased a unique set of designs that represented an overarching theme for their FW21 showcases.

Guerline Kamp

Edgy and hard structural designs found themselves to be a trend among fashion weeks worldwide. Netherlands designer, Guerline Kamp, combined childhood memories with high-fashion designs in her digital showcased titled, “Forgotten Memories.”

She incorporated primary colors to play with the memories and reflect a child-like feeling throughout the line. Colors didn’t stop at the designs Kamp also had models sport bold, primary colors in each makeup look to reflect the outfit. Using bold and structured fabrics and three-dimensional objects, Kamp uses bold colors to contrast the monochromatic elements under the complex designs.

Cornelia Borgerhoff

Pratt graduate Cornelia Borgerhoff’s “Acceptance Letter” collection, with a focus on the current racial revolution in North America, presented a very unique idea. Based on her family’s connection to Ivy League schools, looks in “Acceptance Letter” were heavily inspired by the American preppy style. Silhouettes and colors taken from traditional fraternity wear among collegiate cultures allow this dimmed showcase to reflect both key themes.

CO-DE

German-based designer, Tanja Salem, presented her collection, SCART, via a video presentation. At the beginning of the video, a QR code appears. This code was meant to be scanned and reflect her transparency as a designer, allowing consumers to see how each piece was sourced and made.

The upcoming trends of retro structures and illuminating colors find themselves in harmony with SCART. Inspired by expressionism art, Salem was able to craft retro clothing pieces, sustainably made, without compromising design.

ALCA

Moving away from retro and into traditional, east African designer Emel showcased, ABUNDANCE, which combined comfortability with elegance.

Based in Japan, this collection, drew from inspiration from Emel’s travel, spiritual and art experience, is made to make every woman stand out, beautifully. Sexy necklines and draping fabrics give each piece elegance and the ability to make any woman, of any size, feel great.

BlueTamburin

Last and certainly not least, Vancouver Fashion Week ends with a showcase from Korean designer, BlueTamburin. Aimed to promote social change by providing courage to unique express one’s self, the FW21 collection for BlueTambuin mixes traditional tones with diverse patterns. Bold yet beautiful and based on the themes of Against Every Discrimination, this collection promotes diversity along with the freedom to express your bold side.