Everything you need to know about the first night of Toronto Fashion Week (including one major blip)

Mikhael Kale Fall 2016
Mikhael Kale Fall 2016 shot by George Pimentel
Mikhael Kale Fall 2016
Mikhael Kale Fall 2016 shot by George Pimentel

Toronto Fashion Week kicked off last night with a ceremonious bang—the bang of several models who fell in alarming succession on the Mikhael Kale runway, that is. The culprit? A pool of water allegedly spilled by some troll who clearly takes pleasure in such a scene. That, or someone rushing to find their seat (but I prefer the first scenario). Absent of the formerly buzzy presence of Joe Fresh and Pink Tartan, Toronto Fashion Week’s highlight has largely become Monday night, with a rising favourites Mikhael Kale and Sid Neigum bookending the schedule. Without further ado, we present the biggest and best (plus one major blip) from day one at Toronto Fashion week:

Christopher Paunil Fall 2016
Christopher Paunil Fall 2016 shot by George Pimentel

If last night’s designers were playing for popularity, Christopher Paunil would have taken home the crown. In the first showcase of his bridal and contemporary pieces, the designer (alongside business partner Chalo Hancock) received plenty of hoots from friends and fans in the crowd—a reaction which clearly bodes well for the reception of his collection in the months to come.

Mikhael Kale Fall 2016 shot by George Pimentel

If there’s one thing Mikhael Kale is known for (besides dressing Beyoncé), it’s going where the inspo takes him. A lover of fabric experimentation and straight up weirdness, Kale chose Fall 2016 as his time for for a plastic, denim and velvet mix. “I really wanted to push it even further,” he told me backstage after the show alongside OVO producer Neenyo, who produced the soundtrack for the show.

Narces Fall 2016 shot by George Pimentel

Last night’s Narces show would have passed through inspection without setting off any alarms, had it not been for this unfortunate and undeniable rip off of fellow Canadian, Erdem. Side eye emoji much deserved.

Sid Neigum Fall 2016
Sid Neigum Fall 2016 shot by George Pimentel

Fresh off his London Fashion Week debut (the show was funded by DHL Exported, a program that funds the international exposure of up-and-comers), Sid Neigum chose to showcase his Fall 2016 collection presentation style, letting the cool kid crowd get up close and personal with his mathematical creations—each piece was constructed by using the “golden ratio” of 1 x 1.618 inches, folded and sewn yet again and again. With such feats on display at last night’s show, it’s obvious that Neigum’s measured success is all due to talent rather than luck. Neigum is however lucky he’s such a math geek.

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