Dan Clapson
At 26 years old Caitlin Power has had her fair share of success. After attending the fashion marketing program at Lethbridge College the young designer set her sights on developing a line of refined womenswear something that would stand out from the pack. Embracing classic silhouettes and pieces working with leather accents and an emphasis on structure the Calgary-born talent has now become one of the country’s top up-and-coming designers.
To really break into the country’s fashion scene Power decided she had to leave Calgary so she relocated to Toronto several years ago where she now works out of a design studio just off Queen Street East.
“I moved here to progress my career. It’s a larger platform than Calgary can be” says Power on her choice to set up shop in Toronto. “There are production places here more boutiques that are open to carry a fashion line like mine and the opportunities for media and press are more substantial.”
Staying on top of your game in the fashion world also means you need to be thinking ahead… way ahead. With the aid of trend forecasting websites designers like Power can research what their fashion lines for the spring/summer of 2016 should be influenced by when it comes to colours silhouettes and more.
Known for more masculine and structured design Power’s clothing has garnered a lot of attention in North America and has been worn by personalities like Estelle Jenna Elfman and celebrity chef Cat Cora. Power has also been featured in Fashion magazine and shows regularly on the main runway at Toronto’s fashion week in late October — something she’s in the midst of preparing for as we speak.
But first the designer will fly back home to Calgary to show at PARKLUXE. Presented by the local non-profit fashion initiative PARK this is essentially our city’s answer to Toronto’s fashion week.
“I’m still a starving artist for sure. It’s a very hard business…. The cost to make a garment — that we can cover in the sale price of the clothing but then to factor in rent utilities marketing expenses… all of those aspects have to be factored into the price.
“Just because I’m showing at a fashion week like that doesn’t mean I have a lot of cash flow to do what I do — it comes down to sponsorship a lot of the time” explains Power on preparing for big events like Toronto fashion week.
Much like Power’s career progression over the last five years PARK has grown to new levels in Calgary becoming the organizer of Calgary’s main high-profile fashion events throughout the year. Run by Kara Chomistek Jessie Li and a team of volunteers the non-profit has always been about showcasing and supporting emerging talent in the Calgary fashion scene.
“I showed my first line years ago at the very first PARK event” says Power. “They’ve stepped up their game so much now it’s great. They have huge sponsors now the shows are always really well done. I remember that first time it was so tiny in a little art gallery and now it’s grown so much….
“PARK has really stepped up to the plate to be that voice of fashion in the province.”
On October 4 Power’s new collection will share the PARKLUXE runway with a lineup of Canadian designers including Calgary’s Paul Hardy. As well PARK directors Chomistek and Li are working to expand their efforts into Edmonton and Saskatoon to help foster more of a fashion scene in Western Canada as a whole. For more information on PARK head to ourparkonline.com.
PARKLUXE runs Saturday October 4 in the East Village.
