As the spotlights dimmed on the Blanche Macdonald Centre Spring Graduate Showcase, and the last of the cupcakes were reduced to wrappers, six wonderfully talented and utterly unique up-and-coming Designers were released into the world of Fashion. Each spring the fashion community turns to Blanche Macdonald, as close friends and family gather in the beautiful sun-lit Atelier campus space to fete the launch of the next generation of Fashion Design talent. Blanche Macdonald’s globally lauded standards of education, ever-renewing and flourishing, is known to foster some of the most anticipated artists, many of whom have gone on to become award-winning and internationally successful Designers in the Fashion industry.
“These were brilliant students that all had quite specific voices and pre-existing sensibilities, which is very refreshing to see in people at this stage in their careers; it usually takes designers some time to express their visions that articulately. Also, the technical abilities of this class was particularly high. I think each collection really reflects the essence of who that student is. There was such diversity in this class and they all worked really really hard. There seemed to be a creative camaraderie that allowed students to support and feed off of one another and thoroughly explore the entire design process. It usually takes a more seasoned designer to be that brave,” says Blanche Fashion Director and Creative Consultant, Tyler Udall (whose international credits include Senior Fashion Editor and Contributor in London for publications such as AnOther Magazine, AnOther Man and Dazed and Confused, Contributing Fashion Editor for L’Officiel and Teen Vogue, internationally lauded art photographer, and Creative Director for the Agency Fred and Associates in New York).
Just six months past since the standout Fashion Lyrics Fashion Design Graduate Show, the magnificent upper level of the Atelier Campus was illuminated once again, brimming with music, friends and the tinkling of good tidings for Fashion Design graduates Ciel Wu, Katelyn Woodburn, Frank Wang, Janna Meller, Chantelle Harley, and Cheryl Stelte. Only a few doors down from the Downtown Robson Campus where they honed their creative voice, and spent a year of incredible growth, they presented a select showcase of their debut collection.
International Co-op student Frank Wang, from Taipei had the boys covered. His collection titled ‘Shade of Youth’ was a dark reflection on the expressions of teenage riot and Emo esthetic that saw experimental silhouettes and intriguing manipulations of fabrics. Set in anonymous shades of nightfall, Frank showed boxy tops in sheened fabrics that caught the light in stiff draped folds, and ultra-skinny drainpipe trousers. One pair, constructed of stretch leather, nodded to Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren’s bondage pants, with a strip crossing over between the legs. The clean constructed jacket it was paired with peaked at the shoulders, and offered a little bit of rebellion that could be safely worn to the office.
For Overall Achievement Award winner Cheryl Stelte, the evening was a coming together, not only of the visions brought about in the sewing lab, but of a dream decades in the making. Inspired by the natural, spiritual, and foreign worlds that she has traveled, Cheryl debuted her line Armaiti with an elegant collection set in thick whites, creams and Statue of Liberty teals. A standout of the presentation was a voluminous paneled coat, with abstract city scapes hand painted onto the hem. Necklines and ornamental pattern insets were framed with the graceful curves of ancient temple entrances, adding a quiet allure to clothes ready to pick straight off the backstage racks. She closed with a brilliant white fitted dress, with airy ‘carwash’ panels that fluttered ethereal about, as her collection took leave of the runway.
For Janna Meller, born in Kazakhstan and raised in Russia, only the most lavish would do. Her collection, inspired by the Russian women she held reverence for in childhood, was made up of 100% Italian cashmere, silks, and gold thread embroidery. Her showstopping bronze bustier sheath and belted cape hit a pitch-perfect note of drama, and demanded an evening spent in dusky luxury. She followed up with a chic camel coloured top with lush mink fur cuffs, paired with a semi-fit skirt for a day strolling the high street, and her finale saw her elaborately embroidered belt, cinching in a beautifully tailored silk-lapelled coat.
For Taipei native Co-op student Ciel Wu, it was showtime in more ways that one. Her collection ‘Moi Chou Chou’, which earned her the Award in Garment Construction, played upon both her cultural and personal history with the theatre. It told of the love, sacrifice, and transformation of traditional Beijing Opera ‘The White Snake’, a story passed down from the Ming Dynasty. The themes of romance and transformation were immediately apparent; a toothsome mint sweetheart dress was metamorphosized with an asymmetrical peplumed bustier, and held sway on the hearts of every woman in the room. The male counterpart in Ciel’s tale took form in a beautifully tailored linen suit fastened with a bright polka dotted obi and cording, over a poetically embroidered mandarin collar shirt.
Katie Woodburn, designer of the Street and Saddle line and recipient of the Achievement Award in Illustration, led equestrian lifestyle to the runway to galloping success. Her experience as professional equestrian and work with an Olympian rider in Belgium was made evident in the impeccable construction and conscious design of her collection, which saw the melding of horse sport and high fashion. The tailcoat from her second look was made up of an organic fabric of hemp, cotton, and wild nettle, and featured a clever leather interlocking technique that mimicked the braiding of a horse’s tail, and flattered the figure with an hourglass curve. The same technique was repeated in the closing look, on a competition jacket with structured peplum and concealed zip sleeves that allowed the wearer to convert the piece to suit their activity (which was an exciting option for horse and fashion folk alike).
Chantelle Harley romanced the crowd with her lovely bridal collection, which saw looks to fit a bride of any disposition. A polished dress with an short a-line hem and exquisitely beaded neckline announced the presentation, followed by a statuesque full length gown, with an embroidered lace panel wrapped about the back of the waist and set in a godet at the trail that cleverly and tastefully broke with an otherwise modest silhouette. Chantelle closed with a superbly playful two piece ensemble of boned sequin lace bustier with a sheer body, and a full and frothy layered skirt, that had the audience in fits of delight and promised only the most lively of wedding receptions.
On behalf of all of the friends and family of the Blanche Macdonald Centre, we are sending out our heartfelt congratulations and doffing our caps for the Fashion Design graduate class of Spring 2014!!
Many thanks to our wonderful Blanche Macdonald staff, and roster of volunteer students and graduates from the Blanche Macdonald Makeup, Hair, Nail Parlour and Fashion programs whose incredible work backstage, and throughout the year made this show possible. Special mentions to Program Director/Show Coordinator Peggy Morrison, Program Director Donna Baldock, Fashion Director Tyler Udall, Fashion Department Career Director Mel Watts, Pattern Making and Garment Construction Lab Instructor Brenda Swinglehurst, and creative catalyst Lisa Gellert. Special thanks must also go to Blanche Macdonald Centre's President Lily Lim, Instructors Rose Aiello, Emmanuel St. Juste and Wanda Sustersich, Lab Assistants Whitney Phuong, and Hana Chiang, Creative Director Kelly Schmidt, and Host and CurliQue Beauty Q Talent Leader Jaylene McRae.
Blanche Macdonald's 2014 Spring Fashion Design Graduate Award Winners
Overall Achievement: Cheryl Stelte
Special Achievement in Illustration: Katelyn Woodburn
Special Achievement in Garment Construction: Ciel Wu