Jennifer Torosian F/W 2016
Showcasing fall florals, sporty separates, and bold outerwear at her Toronto Fashion Week debut, up-and-coming Toronto-based designer Jennifer Torosian has proved she’s one to watch in Canada.
Since launching her eponymous label in 2013 with her partner, Raed Ali, Torosian has been building her made-in-Canada brand from the ground up.
For her fall/winter 2016 show on March 16, the designer brought a retro, ladylike twist to the runway. The first look set the tone with breezy floral separates including a top with shoulder-bearing cut-outs and on-trend wide-leg trousers. Sheath dresses elevated with punchy blue mohair collars, cropped bell-bottoms, fur vests, and ruched evening dresses confirmed a bold seventies influence, yet many looks also featured a trending element of nineties revival: black chokers.
“We started with our sports-luxe aesthetic and reinterpreted it to be a lot more feminine. You can see it in the curved lines, the draping and the ruching in some of the pieces,” says Torosian.
After honing her skills at Parsons, Central Saint Martins and George Brown College, Torosian met Ali while working at Holt Renfrew. With Ali handling the business side and Torosian overseeing the creative direction, they’re optimistic that the Canadian market will support homegrown talent.
So far, the designer has demonstrated a clear understanding of how urbanites want to dress. To reflect the appearance of a typical young professional on route to work, the models were styled with an understated make-up, including a swipe of berry lipstick, and relaxed hair with subtle waves. While most of the models walked the runway in thick black and white platforms perhaps most visibly championed by modern teens, many of the pieces were versatile and timeless enough to work with a range of wardrobes.
“We used a mix of techno fabrics. The lace and jacquard pieces are really great to layer with, along with the outerwear jackets. You can throw the mohair pieces over anything on your way out the door and look so polished,” she says. “Imagine walking into your office with a mohair coat on. You’re now the boss.”
As one of TFI New Labels 2015 finalists, Torosian has already been pegged as an emerging designer to follow. With plans to return to Toronto Fashion Week next season, we can only anticipate how this label will continue to grow. Until then, the designer is continuing to bring her A-game with sports-luxe pieces for the woman on-the-go.
