12 evening gowns made of toilet paper at the 2012 Cashmere fashion show
12 evening gowns made of toilet paper at the 2012 Cashmere fashion show
By Frances McInnis | September 20, 2012
By Frances McInnis | 09/20/2012
Every year, Cashmere teams up with Canadian designers to produce a collection of extravagant garments made out of what everyone involved is very careful to call “bathroom tissue.” Sure, the idea is a bit of a stunt, but we’re still always blown away by the intricate feats of engineering that allow full garments to be made from toilet paper (for those who are wondering, the designers use large swaths of the stuff, not long rolls perforated into squares). This year, the show, held at the newly renovated Arcadian Court, had a Hollywood theme. Cue over-the-top evening gowns by the likes of Toronto’s Izzy Camilleri and Adrian Wu as well as Vancouver-based David Jack —plus a close call on a wardrobe malfunction.
This year, 15 designers took part in the charity event (Cashmere will donate 25 cents to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for every pink product purchased in stores this October, plus a dollar for every person who votes for their favourite design online ). Our faves included Laura Siegel’ s draped, layered dress, which we’d almost consider wearing if it wouldn’t disintegrate in rainy weather, and Golnaz Ashtiani’ s gown, which was painstakingly adorned with hundreds of tiny flowers. The raciest look was by Sonia Leclair; it was essentially a few pieces of lingerie precariously linked by sheer panels (most of the media types in the front row couldn’t look the model sporting it in the eye—or were too busy looking elsewhere). But our favourite moment was when we spotted a wispy piece of toilet paper trailing from one model’s shoe. One of the risks of the medium, we suppose.
167113 Lest we forget why we were there (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-28-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-28.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-28.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-28/ sept12-cashmere-fw-28 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167112 Jewellery and accessories designer Karen McFarlane (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-27.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-27/ sept12-cashmere-fw-27 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167111 Cara Cheung (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-26-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-26.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-26.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-26/ sept12-cashmere-fw-26 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167110 Joël Bissonette (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-25.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-25/ sept12-cashmere-fw-25 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167109 Crissi Giamos of Town Shoes (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-24.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-24/ sept12-cashmere-fw-24 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167108 Izzy Camilleri (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-23.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-23/ sept12-cashmere-fw-23 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167107 Golnaz Ashtiani (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-22.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-22/ sept12-cashmere-fw-22 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167106 Lucci Rojas (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-21.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-21/ sept12-cashmere-fw-21 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167105 Michelle Merizzi, who created the magnolia blossom headpiece (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-20.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-20/ sept12-cashmere-fw-20 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167104 Adrian Wu (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-19.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-19/ sept12-cashmere-fw-19 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167103 Suhaila Niazi (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-18.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-18/ sept12-cashmere-fw-18 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167102 Rodney Philpott (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-17.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-17/ sept12-cashmere-fw-17 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167101 The aerialist (Image: Cashmere) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-16.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-16/ sept12-cashmere-fw-16 0 0
(Image: Cashmere)
167100 An aerial silk performance set the mood (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-15.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-15/ sept12-cashmere-fw-15 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167099 Just like any fashion show, the crowd took shots of every look on smartphones. Unlike any fashion show, we overheard a couple of people say, “Can you believe that’s toilet paper?” (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-14/ sept12-cashmere-fw-14 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167098 David Jack’s dress, with its aileron-like peplums and lengthy train (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-13.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-13/ sept12-cashmere-fw-13 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167097 Sonia Leclair’s dress, from the back (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-12/ sept12-cashmere-fw-12 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167096 Sonia Leclair’s lingerie-inspired dress. The necklace is by Karen McFarlane (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-11/ sept12-cashmere-fw-11 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167095 Cara Cheung’s dress, which has rhinestone seaming and a cape-like overskirt (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-10.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-10/ sept12-cashmere-fw-10 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167094 Joël Bissonette’s halter dress with corset and stole (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-9.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-9/ sept12-cashmere-fw-9 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167093 Laura Siegel’s modern take on a Roman toga, with a chunky knit shawl (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-8.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-8/ sept12-cashmere-fw-8 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167092 Izzy Camilleri’s party dress made of hundreds of blossoms (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-7.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-7/ sept12-cashmere-fw-7 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167091 Golnaz Ashtiani’s architectural gown (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-6.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-6/ sept12-cashmere-fw-6 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167090 Lucci Rojas’s gown of pleated and folded pennants (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-5.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-5/ sept12-cashmere-fw-5 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167089 Shawna Robinson and Natalie Sydoruk’s strapless dress with a frothy ribbon skirt (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-4.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-4/ sept12-cashmere-fw-4 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167088 Adrian Wu’s head-scratcher of a dress, which features knotted and woven ropes coiling around the torso (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-3.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-3/ sept12-cashmere-fw-3 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167087 Suhaila Niazi’s gown, which was inspired by a layered cake (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-2.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-2/ sept12-cashmere-fw-2 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167086 Rodney Philpott’s pink sheath with high slit. All the shoes in the show were decorated by Yvonne Lin, working with Town Shoes (Image: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-1.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-1/ sept12-cashmere-fw-1 0 0
(Image: Erin Seaman)
167116 The show—Cashmere’s ninth—was curated by designer Farley Chatto (Images: Erin Seaman) 2012 Cashmere fashion show 2012 Cashmere fashion show https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sept12-cashmere-fw-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/city/2012-cashmere-fashion-show/slide/sept12-cashmere-fw-intro/ sept12-cashmere-fw-intro 0 0
(Images: Erin Seaman)
An idea for opening night??