Yesterday, the Spring/Summer 2019 season of Toronto Fashion Week officially kicked off in the city’s Yorkville area, and once again featured the return of Canadian designers to the local runways. Real Style was seated front and centre in the front rows of the shows, and had a chance to see the latest and greatest from homegrown design talents. Here’s our roundup of Day 1 at TFW, which featured everyone from established names such as Mikhael Kale to rising stars like Mani Jassal.  

Mikhael Kale 

Perhaps best recognized for his architectural, geometric concepts, womenswear designer Mikhael Kale returned to TFW, but held his show in a unique setting. Rather than the typical catwalk show, the Central Saint Martins-trained designer decided to unveil his new SS19 lineup at the Royal Ontario Museum. It was amongst the dinosaurs on the second floor of the ROM where guests caught the presentation, which brought us pastel pinks, soft ivory and funky two-piece ensembles. Staying true to his unconventional style, Kale outfitted models in hooded jackets that featured cut-out sections and flowing ruffles. Meanwhile, green and blue plaids and bold stripes also brought a funky feel to the collection.  

Mani Jassal  

Indian Canadian designer Mani Jassal might be a fresh face on the Toronto Fashion Week scene, but this young designer has been making a name for herself. Jassal’s fusion of East meets West frocks once again lit up the TFW runways, with her Free Spirit collection. On the runways, the free-spirited vibes translated into Bollywood inspired, voluminous skirts paired with contemporary crop tops. From lace and sheer panels to ornate sequins, metallics and silky fabrics, Jassal’s latest lineup of eveningwear focused on contrasting textures and glamour.  

Narces 

As expected, Toronto-based eveningwear designer Nikki Wirthensohn Yassemi turned to femininity on the TFW catwalks. The newest creations from her label Narces included billowing black lace dresses, metallic frocks with high collars and numerous delicate, off-the-shoulder necklines. Long white hemlines were adorned with crochet lace, while twinkling embellishment brought floor-length gowns to life.

Sid Neigum  

At age 30, Alberta-born and Toronto-based designer Sid Neigum is still young, but his eponymous label has been growing up quickly in the past few years. Neigum, who favours architectural shapes, held an edgy show underground in a Yorkville parking garage. Models strut the runway wearing structured, boxy dresses and oversized jackets in creamy, off-shades shades. Floral prints in lavender and blue, bright red sheer dresses and high-waisted trousers also wrapped up the aesthetic, and ushered in springtime vibes.  

Photos: George Pimentel for Toronto Fashion Week