Kathryn Grant
/Show Day
8th September, 2023
/Social Media
I have been a fledgling seamstress all my life but never understood that a Fashion Design education is learning how to make patterns and sew with precision. After working for the non profit “Common Thread” and learning how to use industrial sewing machines, I attended fashion design school in Vancouver in 2020. The entire pandemic I was in our school “bubble” honing my skills. From afar in Montreal, dear friend, fellow skater, and well known Vancouver fashion designer Cydney Mar mentored me through all the really tough days.
My background is figure skating and my mom Carol was a skating coach, choreographer, and disciplinarian. During that time I also took off ice dance class as all the skaters did. That is where my love of dance and music really took hold. I have always loved costuming and the Arts, and I now have the skills to realize the costumed “looks” of dance and stage.
My collection at VFW “PERFORMING ARTS, CENTER STAGE” encompasses that love for all styles of dance, musical theatre, and fashion. Each of my models not only represent my work but are all talented performers in their own right. I am so thrilled that each of my models agreed to “perform” and wear my looks on the runway.
I am including my hand dyed silks, forgiving hand beaded mesh, hand pleated tulle, rhinestone and crystal encrusted lycra, headpieces and feathers to immerse the show attendees in my world. I may have arrived late in life but I am so happy to be here.
PREVIOUS COLLECTIONS
What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
A background in figure skating led to a creative path that eventually developed into fashion design. The transition from skating to fashion became the foundation for presenting a first collection at Vancouver Fashion Week.
How would you describe your design style?
The available coverage of the debut collection focuses on the designer’s transition from figure skating to fashion, but does not provide enough detailed information to reliably define a specific design style.
What can people expect from your collection?
The collection represents the designer’s debut at Vancouver Fashion Week, bringing a new creative direction from a background in figure skating into fashion.
How has your background in figure skating influenced your work in fashion?
The transition from figure skating to fashion is an important part of the designer’s creative journey. The experience of performing and working with movement provides a connection between skating and the presentation of clothing.
What does presenting your debut collection at Vancouver Fashion Week mean to you?
Presenting a debut collection at Vancouver Fashion Week marked an important step in the transition from figure skating to fashion design and introduced the work to a fashion audience in Vancouver.