This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

Toronto Arts & Fashion week sets itself apart with the extravagance and unabated display of creativity and artistic expression from the artists and designers that show each year. Last week, these five designers stood out for their truly imaginative collections that, though inspiring, may not necessarily be made for the streets.

Last week the rich aroma of chocolate wasn't the only thing drawing crowds down the otherwise sleepy Sterling Road. Lit up with bright red lights and pumping out beats by DJ Daniel R. Wilson, Toronto Arts & Fashion launched its 7th annual week of runway shows and art exhibits under its new moniker (Toronto "alternative" fashion week was axed). The new venue treated crowds to a spectacle of 200 national and international fashion designers, visual artists and performers.

Though much of FAT ends up being more spectacle than wearable fashion the below five designers stood out for the unique yet wearable collections.

As Arts & Fashion Week came to a close on Saturday with its all-day shopping experience of the show's best collections, there was a mix of feelings in the air, including accomplishment over FAT's 2012's success, as well as ambition (and anxiety) for the year to come. The 7th annual alternative arts and fashion week ran from April 24th to 28th, with the main events held at 213 Sterling Road, and an offsite exhibition and market at the Drake Lab. Although the event drew on current trends, FAT's focus is on the philosophy that fashion is deeply rooted in culture and identity, resulting in an event that was unique, expressive, and interactive.

Corktown is probably one of the last neighbourhoods that comes to mind when looking for great design. The Junction is the place for salvage and antiques, King East for the newest in high-end and modern — but the blocks just to the north? Not much.

This Week in Fashion rounds up the week's style news, store openings and closings, pop-up shops, sales and upcoming fashion and design events in Toronto. Find it here every Wednesday morning.

NEWS

The Compendium Daily has shut down. Founder JJ Thompson says he's moving onto other initiatives and handing over party and scene coverage to friend Ryan Emberley at his new site Cdaily.ca. Billing itself as Toronto's unofficial society page, Thompson's site first surfaced in 2009 and while it never seemed to grow beyond a devoted core audience, it did a stellar job delivering pretty, time-wasting photos.