20 years in and Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) continues to showcase ground-breaking designers that are leaving their mark on the runway. To celebrate this milestone, the city’s leading multi-arts fashion platform will present a month-long event series that focuses on modern streetwear, evening glam, eco-friendly designs, and more. From pop-ups shining a light on local boutiques to a national Shop Canadian campaign, May will be all about spotlighting fashion’s pivotal role in Toronto’s vibrant, cultural scene. 

According to founder and executive director Vanja Vasic, FAT might’ve evolved in scale and influence, but its ethos has remained the same. The fashion platform’s main goal remains to promote unconventional beauty and cultural tastemakers. 

“Our mission has always been about more than style — it’s about creating space for expression, connection and cultural transformation. This anniversary is a tribute to the artists and innovators shaping the future of Canadian fashion,” she says.

Fashion Art Toronto at the Distillery.

This year’s festivities started with FAT returning to Artist Project for a dynamic runway show, presenting experiential designs from Lunara, a local, comfy wear brand. On May 15, there will be a surprise pop-up fashion show, bringing back the early-days, guerrilla spirit to the current style realm. May 23 will revisit virtual fashion through an energetic, Sun/Shade opening party at The Bentway. On the following day, outdoor installations, in-store activations, and a must-see retrospective show will take over the Distillery District, officially kicking off FAT’s 1664 Fashion Week, with a free-to-attend opening party.

The week-long runway show will feature the best of extravagant and ready-to-wear creations, made by more than 40 Canadian designers. Lesley Hampton, Ali Haider, Sagradessa, and more will present their latest, innovative collections. While models catwalk dressed in fashion-forward pieces inside the runway show, the excitement will also continue outside as a large-scale, multi-media installation recaps FAT’s evolution over the course of its 20 years. The on-site fashion and beauty boutique will also allow attendees to take home local gems that range from glitzy accessories to stylish apparel.

Sagradessa at Fashion Art Toronto.

Those attending FAT’s events won’t just feel the encouragement to shop local, but notice how the multi-arts fashion platform has made a mark on Toronto’s fashion scene. Through glamorous runway shows and interactive pop-ups, the organization’s impact will reverberate throughout the city, proving that there is space in fashion for all genders, shapes and sizes, and cultural backgrounds.

Fashion Art Toronto’s 1664 Fashion Week will run from May 29 to June 1. For a schedule breakdown and more info on designers and events, visit FAT’s site.