Hamilton Runway Project kicks off summer with fashion design-off competition

It's solstice eve, so what better time to usher in summer and what better way than an Ethos of Summer" fashion competition on June 20, with the audience deciding the two finalists in the pilot event of Hamilton Runway Project?

This is how it plays out. About a month ago a group of Hamilton designers were given the challenge of creating an outfit, from scratch.

The outfit, says Hamilton Fashion Week director Ken Beihler, should somehow convey what summer means" to each designer. That's the idea of ethos of summer,'" he says.

It all happens at the Bad & Boujee bar and restaurant, 93 John St. S., from around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, with the designers showing off their creations, with models, in the space as those attending make their way around and form opinions about the various results.

The audience then will vote and the several finalists who emerge from that vote, weighted by a panel of judges, will be considered for the final prize of $250, says Beihler.

The designers have all had a month to come up with their outfits. The winner will be chosen from the finalists by a panel of Hamilton Fashion Week executive members.

Judging, says Beihler, will be based on creativity, wearability, cohesiveness and overall quality.

Each designer is responsible for producing one full outfit including hair and makeup, model and any accessories. The judging will be based on how much is actually created by the designer.

Any materials are allowed in creating the outfit including recycled materials.

The designers contending are: Leslie Smith (Thrifty Designer); Kaylee Shallows (Wyll & Oak); Bobby Raffin (Three Pieces); Aimee Wood (Boo Boo Remy); and Michelle Brisson (Fashion Couture Michelle).

Hamilton Runway Project is a series of competitions that encourages local designers to create and network with each other and with audiences and that encourages audiences to get excited about city and area fashion culture. Hamilton Fashion Week is an organization of Hamilton fashion champions helping to increase the profile of fashion as an art, a culture and an industry in this city.

For more, see hamiltonfashionweek.com

Jeff Mahoney is a Hamilton-based reporter and columnist covering culture and lifestyle stories, commentary and humour for The Spectator.jmahoney@thespec.com