New York based designer Tanya Taylor came to Calgary this past weekend for a private preview of her spring 2014 collection – which received glowing reviews at New York Fashion Week last month. Local media, bloggers and buyers enjoyed an intimate setting Saturday evening where the collection was on display throughout the beautiful home where the event was held. Taylor’s collection for spring 2014 was light, fresh and reflected her impressive artistic flair. The combination of organza and painted fabrics were interesting and unique. Crayola-like colours were also carefully incorporated throughout. Seeing the clothes and accessories in person was especially cool because you could see and feel the texture, quality and attention to detail of every piece.
Because this collection was her first official runway presentation in New York, Taylor also introduced a line of bags and shoes – and it’s lucky she did. They’re awesome. Hand carved out of nickel with interchangeable fabric pouches inside, the bags are like jewelry. And the shoes are equally as impressive. Her super cool take on the simple strappy sandal is going to go over super well with a fashion forward crowd. Both the bag and shoes retail for $795.
Taylor’s background is equally as unique as her critically acclaimed designs. She earned a finance degree from McGill before going on to obtain a design degree from Parsons. She then designed for Elizabeth & James before creating her own line in 2011. And it hasn’t taken long for fashion’s elite to notice her original aesthetic and talent. Impressively, Taylor also designs the fabrics herself and all the clothes are created in New York, which is a unique quality today when so many clothing lines are made overseas.
To wrap up her successful time in Calgary, Taylor held a truck show at Hotel Le Germain where her team took pre-orders for her latest designs and sold special pieces from her fall and spring 2013 collections. And the shoppers who attended considered themselves lucky. After all, it’s not often when a respected industry source like Style.com speaks so highly of an up-and-coming designer: “In the ever-expanding realm of new designers, there are those who grow at a slow and steady, methodical pace and then there are those who shoot up like a weed. Tanya Taylor is one of the latter.”
You can view her full spring 2014 collection here. And check out Tanya Taylor’s website here.
Photos from style.com and the truck show at Hotel Le Germain
Casey Wagar 