Toronto Fashion Week Spring 2013: The Mercedes-Benz Start Up crowns its winner, plus all the looks from the 8 finalists
See all the looks from the Mercedes Benz Start Up finals! »
And the winner is: DUY! Last night, the search for the Spring 2013 winner of the Mercedes Benz Start Up competition came to a close and Montreal designer Duy Nguyen was crowned the victor.
Pitted against seven other designers from across Canada, Nguyen’s dreamy pieces impressed the judges (including our editor-in-chief, Bernadette Morra) and secured his spot at the top of the podium. The DUY Spring 2013 collection was California girl meets New York, pairing structured suits with flowing chiffons and short-shorts with strong, collarless blazers. Nguyen was inspired by the French who are “very easy going” yet the collection was not necessarily reflective of Canadians—but worry not, as he told us that “fashion is about dreaming.” There was also a tinge of nostalgia, as silhouettes were very ’80s with crocheted knit tops and a modern version of the mom jean. The palette was simple and airy with seafoam greens, crèmes and baby blues but was punched up with a bright red-orange dress and short suit that featured cutouts. These pieces were winners in their own right.
Other competitors included Alberta-born, Toronto-based Caitlin Power, who showed a structured-yet-feminine collection with yellow accents on tuxedo tops and a warrior-esque headpiece. There was a nod to The Bachelor Canada (or so we’d like to believe) with Christopher Bates’ collection, when a 007-inspired model handed out a single red rose to a member of the frow (front row, y’all).
Collections were also seen from P.E.I. design duo Hilary and Louanna Murphy of Dreamboat Lucy, Edmonton’s Malorie Urbanovitch and Nicole Campre, Calgary’s Lauren Bagliore and Vancouver’s Patty Nayel of Pure Magnolia.
As for Duy Nguyen, as the winner he’ll return to World MasterCard Fashion Week next season to show the DUY Fall 2013 collection after receiving mentorship from industry insiders. Even better: We’ll be featuring his work in an upcoming issue of FASHION.
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