Georgian designers Gaudet kicked off LG Fashion Week with a memorial service for Nodar Kumaritashvili - its relevance? Well, they are Georgian and so was he.

I respect the need to grieve, but the inclusion of a commemorative ceremony was a distraction - the CBC slow-mo broadcast of a luger crashing to his death would playback in attendees heads for the remainder of the day. Nodar's face could be viewed on two large screens, but to bring the mood up, Gaudet enlisted the help of Georgian vocalists and the Kakheti Dance Ensemble - a welcomed distraction from the mood-crushing memorial.

At the end of each runway show at LG Fashion Week we've tried to head backstage to snag some coveted interviews with the designers. Hey, we're not Fashion Televison, so we usually need to wait our turn (if you know what I mean), but when all is said and done, all of the designers have been gracious enough to give us a little soundbite.

Carlton Brown



Video of the Carlton Brown runway show
Photos of the Carlton Brown runway show
Backstage photos at the Carlton Brown runway show

The early afternoon shows at Toronto Fashion Week tend to be more low-key than the evening shows, giving newer designers a chance to show off their stuff. The lack of activity in and around the tent, coupled with the sunlight pouring through the window at the back meant that vibe was a lot more relaxed than at the evening shows on Monday and Tuesday.

Since people (presumably) work during the day, the audience wasn't as packed either. This meant fewer photographers, which was music to my ears. For the first time this week, I could sit with my legs completely stretched out in the pit. So when Gaudet took to the runway at 3pm, I was really looking forward to shooting in relative comfort.

I didn't know how I felt about Gaudet's jackets at first - they reminded me of bedsheets. But the Gaudet look quickly started to grow on me. Unfortunately the show lasted for less than fifteen minutes. Just as I was starting to really get into it, it was over.