Photo by Christian Allaire
 Although relatively new to Toronto Fashion Week, Martin Lim’s Danielle Martin and Pao Lim (see that clever last name thing they did there?) are no newcomers to the world of fashion. Being the winners of last year’s Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition, beating out four other finalists, the Montreal natives are graduates from the prestigious Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London and have worked with noted designers Christian Lacroix and Roland Mouret. 

Photo by Christian Allaire
This season, the design duo was inspired by “sport-couture graphic modernism,” with heavy influences from the 1960s. The show opened with a black and white colour-blocked leather tee in a boxy cut, paired with a leather skirt. The 60s revival trend continued with more colour blocking in the form of turtlenecks, both sleeveless and non-sleeveless in purple, black, and white (which, I think, was an odd to Yves Saint Laurent’s signature Mondrian dress). A retro paisley/tapestry design appeared in both a topper coat and deconstructed jacket, but was given a modern twist by giving it a gold shimmer finish. Bold colours like fuchsia and coral added kick to the collection as well.

 
Photo by Christian Allaire
The collection flipped to the other side of the spectrum by also fusing sports aesthetic with sweet, 1960s looks. The fabrics looked easy to wear, lots of silks and jerseys, and flowed gracefully down the runway (although not the most form flattering — one could see the models’ clavicle protruding through the fabric.) Silk strips, done as either paneling on a shirt or hanging as fringe, reminded me of racing stripes; which, as the models raced down the runway, did give off the notion of speed.

In all, the designers show promise. I tried to snag an interview backstage after the show, but the line-up was longer than the line-up at the DMZ – which means they must be doing something right.

Photo by Christian Allaire  
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