In March, Rudsak founder Evik Asatoorian unveiled a dark, edgy new Fall 2016 collection at Toronto Fashion Week. The Montreal-based designer launched his outerwear label in 1994, and has become recognized for his love of rebellious style.

For the season ahead, Rudsak’s latest designs stay true to the brand’s passion for leather, as well as its signature rock and roll aesthetic. Asatoorian is known for exploring the worlds of music and art through his creations, which can be evidenced by the dark hues and leathery accents.

Real Style chatted with the seasoned Canadian designer about this latest design inspiration, his love of layering and why raw materials play an essential role in his runway creations. Here’s what Asatoorian had to share with us.

Real Style: Describe the inspiration behind your Fall 2016 collection.

Evik: The whole point was wilderness, so we got an amazing cast building this whole image of wilderness and the climate that we have. It was a very layered look, so shearling and furs. Everything just came together, and I think the outcome was people liked it.

Real Style: Do you have a favourite piece from your new collection?

Evik: Our ponchos. People like our ponchos and our trimmings with wool, furs and leather. People saw what you could do with a lot of layering pieces.

Real Style: Is there a favourite material or fabric that you love working with?

Evik: Always leather, anything that is a raw material, I love it. Shearling, fur pieces, all that just allows the imagination to go wild.

Real Style: As an established Canadian designer, what are some challenges you’ve had to face in the industry?

Evik: Things are faster, people are very educated and it’s nice to give consumers what they want. I think the quality is a priority for us, and people see the evolution with the brand for the past few years. It’s nice to challenge ourselves and put the bar higher.

Photos: Paul Ross for OPIQUE / Top of the Runway