Young Toronto designers create vest for Olympics

Young Toronto designers create vest for Olympics

Designers Paris Li, Mana Mojaver, Szilvia Szabadka-Birs and Jas Banwait with the vest (Photo by John Medalla)

Five up-and-coming local designers from the Toronto Fashion Incubator, a non-profit organization that promotes growth in the fashion community, have put their sewing machines together to make a vest for the Vancouver Olympic Games. The piece is a high-collared, quilted number with military detailing and will be worn by staff members, as well as Drew Fagan, the provincial deputy minister of tourism, in the Ontario Pavilion throughout the event.

“The fact that five competing companies have come together like this speaks volumes about Canadians and our community,” says Susan Langdon, executive director of the TFI, who describes the piece as “chic yet comfortable.” The vests, which will debut on February 12, are limited edition and not available for purchase. Langdon, however, did concede that if torchbearer slash country singer Shania Twain expressed interest, TFI would consider making her one.