Page 10 - Real Style April 2018

Canadian Designers To Watch Now
MIKAEL D
Designer Mikael Derderian may be based in Mon- treal, but the rising star has also been making a splash outside his hometown in the past couple of years. Derderian, who heads his eponymous cou- ture label Mikael D, is set to open a new store in Beijing this year. He also recently attired TV per- sonality Giuliana Rancic for the Grammy Awards, and has dressed Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Halle Berry.
The child of an Armenian father and Lebanese mother, Derderian remains proud of his upbringing on home soil, and wants to see Canadian fashion gain more momentum. “Canadian fashion is kind of secluded. There’s not enough of a spotlight on the industry itself, and I think that’s the biggest lack,” he explains. “[We should be] opening up stores here, wearing Canadian, not just hashtagging it, actually doing it.”
Besides championing fellow Canadian talents, Derderian is also excited for the renewed femininity of springtime. “Spring 2018 for me is all about com- fort and individual style, a touch of romantic with a touch of modern. I think today’s woman should be very confident about showing who she is truly, and shining bright through it,” he tells us.
Certainly, ladylike detail and elegance play a big role on the Mikael D runway. Floor-length gowns in shades such as ivory, cream and blush grace Derderian’s collections, with pops of red and em- erald green on the occasional statement dress. It’s not surprising, then, to learn that the designer draws his sartorial influences from 1980s fashion maestros like Christian Lacroix and Emanuel Ungaro. “I’m a 1980s child, so to me, that’s a big influence. I feel very connected to that era. We are re-exploring that aesthetic, and bringing that to today’s world in kind of a more modern approach,” he says.
Fast forward to today, and it looks like this child of the ‘80s is all grown up. With big projects such as a show at New York Bridal Fashion Week in the works, we’re excited to see what Derderian comes up with next. In the meantime, he encourages us to get all dressed up this spring, and proudly #Wear- Canadian.
10 Real Style April 2018
photos, left: MikAel d lookbook, riGht: Unttld lookbook