The Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels Design Competition kicked off the Elle Show Thursday night at the Direct Energy Centre. The night was a far cry from last year's event. It was a slickly produced venture with a venue that didn't enforce separation between the VIPs and us regular folk. Instead of two rooms (which was the arrangement last year), there was a single elevated runway for all to see the show at the same time. There was seating for most everyone, which was a departure from last year. I chose to stand because I wanted to get better pictures and my seats were too close to the beginning of the runway.

Welcome to Fashion Bites, a weekly round-up of fashion news in Toronto.

Buy Design is on this Saturday, April 26, 2008. Dress in your best Studio 54 outfit and grab a ticket to help the Windfall Clothing Service, Canada's only new clothing bank. Tickets are $75. If you buy 5 you get 1 free.

TFI's new labels Fashion Design Competition and Fundraiser kicks off the Elle Show on Thursday, April 24. Guest tickets are still available for $50. Find out who wins the New Labels contest while raising funds for the Toronto Fashion Incubator. Famous fashion people will be at the Elle Show this weekend. Check out Tim Gunn and Coco Rocha. I really don't understand why they invited Steven Cojocaru, Can you call people who cover celebrities, celebrities?

The Patricia Harris Gallery of Textiles and Costume is now open on the 4th floor of the Crystal. The collection is a good representation of textiles and costumes from across the ages. I was impressed with the Egyptian tapestry square from the 4th century and the perfection that is an Azzedine Alaïa suit.

Welcome to The Shop Crawl, the weekly post where I provide you with a listing of sales for the week. The crawl covers retail, warehouse, and sample sales.

The Great Kids Stuff Sale - April 19. St. Leonard's Anglican Church, 25 Wanless Ave.

Sixty Canada Spring Summer Sample Sale - April 24 - 25. 460 Richmond St. West, #600

Cutesy Clothing Auction - April 20. Hotshot, 181 Augusta

Shopping Addicts Spring 2008 sale - April 17 - 20, 2008. 639 Queen Street West

Absolutely Vintage Sale - April 19. Maple Cottage, 62 Laing Street

CK Semi-Annual Sale - April 4 - 21. 150 Bloor Street West

Geox Spring Warehouse Sale - April 10 - 19. 14 Advance Road, Etobicoke

Casalife Hip Decor Clearance Sale - April 1 - 30. 170 - 171 East Liberty Street

Welcome to Fashion Bites, a weekly round-up of fashion news in Toronto.

The TFI New Labels Fashion Design Competition kicks off the Elle Show at the Direct Energy Centre on April 24, 2008.
LFTO Knitivism is looking for knitted items to donate to Jessie's Centre for Teenagers and Anduhyaun Emergency Women's Shelter. They are looking for hats, mitts, scarves, slippers, children toys, blankets, baby clothes and other baby stuff. Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:
West Side Stories - 1499 Dundas West
Red Tent Sisters 810 Danforth Ave
Ryerson Women's Centre, Jorgenson Hall Please call ahead. 416-979-5255 ext.2350.

The Damzels are premiering their Spring Collection today. Head down to the Queen East shop and enjoy cocktails while you shop. 5pm - 8pm.

Afiya Francisco at LouLou met shoe designer Stuart Weitzman.

I was starting to feel rather jaded about Toronto fashion events until I walked into the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District for the first day of Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week aka [FAT]. The space is incredible and it gives off an old school European vibe. I really enjoyed the diversity of the people in the crowd, who provided such positive energy to the event. It was quite remarkable.

Welcome to Fashion Bites, a weekly round-up of fashion news in Toronto.

Toronto Alternative Fashion Week is underway and continues until Friday. I'm looking forward to seeing Amie Scott, Krane, Satan's Candy, and The Deadly Nightshades.

(Speaking of Amie Scott, The Grumpy Owl dedicated a post to her.)

Mass Exodus starts and I finally got a media pass. I can't wait to see what this crop of youngsters will produce.

Andrew Sardone talks up the manbag. I've been a fan of the manbag since NYC in the spring.