Written by the Fete Chinoise team

C anada celebrated its annual most fashionable night in, at the first virtual production of the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards gala on May 19th. Nominees, Honourees, Sponsors, and Guests all tuned in from home, work, or the backyard, to toast some of the nation’s most talented creators in the fashion industry.

In a year and a half of pandemic living, Canadians have been in and out of lockdowns and socially distanced, putting some limits on how creative work was and is being done for almost all artists and staff in the industry. The pandemic impacted everything from the largest scale operations to small designer studios: there were no in-person runway shows or events, and therefore less commissions of clothing for guests attending events; photography and modelling had to be in a socially distanced environment; global supply chains were disrupted and logistics were a challenge for many companies; manufacturing facilities needed to maintain a reduced capacity in order to socially distance; and there was a huge push to shop local to support fellow Canadian businesses. Congratulations to everyone in the creativity of fashion, especially to the nominees, honourees, and winners, who all stayed true to their craft and art.

Asian representation in all industries is also a large and important topic, especially during this time of standing up against Anti-Asian Racism and all forms of racism. The awards have always strived to recognize and involve a diverse community of movers and makers, from all different backgrounds, truly reflecting the multi-cultural landscape of Canada. This year, it was also announced the Hudson’s Bay is the first major department store in Canada to take the 15 Percent Pledge, committing that at least 15 percent of all new brands purchased for its stores and thebay.com will be owned or designed by Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC).

Several Asian artists and creatives were nominated and in some cases, took home the trophy! Because it’s Asian Heritage Month, it is even more important to highlight some of these individuals and their achievements. Remember their names, as these are all great role-models and resources in a creative field for our community (which traditionally, has not valued the arts as much as the sciences and business.) Many Asian individuals also work behind the scenes in fashion, and celebrating fashion as an industry not only brings respect to the makers, but also increases our community’s overall respect for products and the process. This, in turn, helps us to appreciate what we consume and to stop and appreciate the hands and hearts that bring what we wear to life.

GRETA CONSTANTINE

AWARDED WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Great Constantine is a collection of ready-to-wear womenswear based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2006 by designers. Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, the label is derived from the combination of the name of the latter's mother, Greta, with that of the former's grandfather, Constantine.

Their brand has become a favourite for many Canadian leading women and fans worldwide. They have taken home the award for womenswear before, and continue to impress on the world stage with their statement creations, worn by celebrities, philanthropists and fashion lovers everywhere.

COREY NG

AWARDED STYLIST OF THE YEAR

Corey Ng is an award-wining stylist who has worked alongside some of the country's most reputable names in the industry. His authentic, timeless and elevated aesthetic has inspired his work as a stylish, creative director, consultant, fashion editor, and television style expert.

Corey’s Editorial work has been featured in Vanity Fair, L’Officiel USA, Tatler Hong Kong, Elle Canada, Nylon and Refinery29. His commercial clients include Holt Renfrew, Nike, Google, Shiseido, SSense, Hudson’sBay, etc. Corey has also collaborated on various projects and launches with Chanel, Hermes, Michael Kors and th Gap.

GRACE LEE

AWARDED MAKE UP ARTIST OF THE YEAR

For world-renowned artist Grace Lee, it has always been about the work. Just as any visionary artist has a trademark style,Grace has a recognizable aesthetic, which is consistently ahead of the curve. It is this creativity that sets her apart, along with the confidence that comes with 20 years in the business that has made her a household name and a favourite among clients and celebrities alike.Grace began as a Professional Makeup Artist for MAC Cosmetics, while attending university. What began as a part-time job, quickly proved to be her passion. She began educating in-house makeup artists for MAC, which then evolved into the highly coveted position of Senior Artist for the Global Pro Team. In this role, she helped to build the MAC brand through high-profile media events across the globe for more than 5 years.

She is has a celebrity clientle which include the likes of Justin Timberlake, Drake, Eva Longoria, Jack White, Anna Paquin, and Marcia Gay Harden. She has supported a team of global artists backstage at New York, Milan, London and Paris shows, skillfully bringing art to life for international labels. Her work has been featured in countless magazines, including W, Nylon, FASHION, Flare, Elle Canada, Flaunt, Taiwan Vogue, and Shanghai Elle.

In 2012, Grace was announced as the Official Makeup Artist for Maybelline NY in Canada, a very coveted position. As Spokesperson, she is often found in front of the camera on live TV, and backstage at Fashion Week in NY and Toronto. This platform has allowed her creativity to flourish, as she creates the looks and sets the trends – something that she was clearly always meant to do.

JUSTIN WU

NOMINATED FOR IMAGE MAKER OF THE YEAR

Justin Wu is a Toronto-based Director and Photographer. After foregoing a conventional career in the sciences and business, Justin was scouted and signed as a commercial & portrait photographer.

Working in Europe with the likes of Vogue, Elle, and GQ, he became an internationally recognized artist. From photography, Justin transitioned into commercial videos, where he found his passion for filmmaking.

His work soon became a topic for the press, where he is best known for his uplifting approach in his videos and commercials; most notably, his music video for Jay-Z’s Life+Times ‘Empire State of Mind’ received international acclaim and he has been featured on CBS News, MTV, Huffington Post, Vogue, GQ, Entertainment Tonight, and Le Grand Journal (Canal+).

SPECIAL APPEARANCES

And there were appearances by Chinese-Canadian musician Tyler Shaw, and former CAFA host and fashion leader, Joe Zee. Joe gave a special mention to Corey Ng, the Stylist of the Year, for styling him in a bathrobe when he was the host of the awards a few years ago!

Our Editor-in-Chief at Fete Chinoise, Deborah Lau-Yu, also serves as the Director of Graphic Arts for the CAFA’s. She is pictured here in earrings by Chinese-Canadian designer, and previous CAFA nominee, J.Y. Gao, and in a custom dress by Angela Chow, with fabric from Toronto go-to, Leo’s Textiles, an Asian-owned business.

FETE CHINOISE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DEBORAH LAU-YU, CAPTURED BY GEORGE PIMENTEL

Congratulations to President, Vicky Milner, and co-founder Brittney Kelleher, and the CAFA team, for continually supporting and pushing forward the Canadian fashion industry. We look forward to seeing the work of more designers and producers from the Chinese community here in Canada, and to see more cultural aspects in fashion. Our mission at Fête Chinoise is aligned in the same spirit of community — to #movecultureforward.