A capacity crowd of over 1000 fashion industry insiders, media, family and friends, undaunted by a chilly, rainy night,  gathered inside the Westin Bayshore Ballroom earlier this week to show their warm support for the Blanche Macdonald 2007 Graduate Design Fashion Show.      

Seventeen models strutted the 100 foot long runway wearing 43 student collections in a fast-paced, strong show that proved there was something for everyone. 

Grads took the audience on a fashion travelog with global influences that ranged from Japanese anime, chunky, quirky Scandanavian knits to Middle Eastern harem-style jumpsuits. There were collections to thrill Upper East Side Gossip Girls and chill West Coast boarders.

Other Grads chose to time travel with designs that evoked Medieval, old Hollywood Glamour, 70's disco and 80's-inspired fashion.

Hip, eco-friendly designs using recycled fabrics were also presented in the form of chic cocktail dresses, coats and jackets.

Nature-inspired collections, embellished with peacock feathers, vines and even onions,  took on the catwalk. 

A Dracula collar on a black taffeta gown, a deep red and black flame gown, balaclava batwing sweaters and a leather cage jacket gave just the right amount of evil elegance to a handful of Grad collections.

Ovations continued throughout the evening with each presentation. At the end of the show,  the Special Achievement Winners were announced and the comaraderie the students felt after their year together was obvious as they cheered each other on. The winners were:
For Pattern Making: Kathy Dawson and Morgan Ard  (tied)
Garment Construction: Carrie Trytko
Design: Lauren Osmond            
Portfolio Presentation: Lauren Osmond
Over-All Achievement: Tucky Aalto

The Fashion Design program at the Blanche Macdonald Centre is a one year, four semester program. The college has recently expanded into a second, downtown location in the heart of Vancouver’s shopping mecca, Robson Street.The new multi-million dollar campus houses stunning, state of the art educational facilities: design and production studios, lecture halls, etc.

Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design alumni include:

Theola Wong, Lead Designer, Women’s Activewear for Reebok

Jayn Simpson, Designer, Jayn Simpson, extensively profiled in Style, The
Globe and Mail, The National Post, The Toronto Sun. Jane’s eponymous line is
described as a “must see during L’Oreal Fashion Week.

Joyce Ma, owner and designer of Tension Clothing, T by Tension, Sweet
Chemise and Coy Cat. Joyce’s prolific talent has been featured extensively
in such publications asFashion, Lou Lou, Chatelaine and Elle Canada.

Lisa Malcic, owner & designer of Urban Baby designs (now with over 450
retail accounts in North America and growing!)

Dace Moore of Dace
Shannon Wilson of Lululemon Athletica
Maja Stace-Smith, Designer, Void Clothing
Susan Gagnon, co-owner of SYKA Textiles
Roberta Cottam, Designer for Blue Bear Aware
Michelle Rasmussen, Senior Designer at Boardroom Custom Clothing
Sydney Wharton, Technical Designer, Please Mum
Jenny Sandberg, Designer, Papillon Eastern
Brenda Holmes, Designer, Sweet Soul
Megan Dunn, Designer, Damsel Funk Designs
Irene Kehler, Associate Designer, Kenan
Jeannette Heins, Production Manager, Patricia Fieldwalker Lingerie
Kaytlin Quinn, Designer, Mintage
Roberta Rodger, World Champion Snowboarder & Designer
for NOMIS and Foursquare Outerwear