Pink Tartan Designer Kimberly Newport-Mimran

FashionTalks Podcast

Kimberly Newport Mimran, founder and Design Director of the global fashion label Pink Tartan. In a personal and entertaining conversation, Kimberly shares stories of her childhood and what fashion meant to her through the years, her foray into fashion retail, the difference between product developer and designer and surprising anecdotes of life in the fashion industry.

Trigere designer Franklin Benjamin Elman

FashionTalks Podcast

Pauline Trigere launched her namesake label in New York City in the 1940s. A single mother, immigrant and female entrepreneur she was ahead of her time. With Trigere, she dressed some of the most famous celebrities of the day from Lena Horne to Lauren Bacall to Estee Lauder.

Now, this heritage brand is in the hands of Franklin Benjamin Elman. Born in Montreal, Canada Franklin has a design career that has included many illustrious houses, including numerous years at Dior. Franklin shares the intimate stories of his childhood, the unexpected moment of his career journey and how he is honouring the legacy of Pauline as he reignites her glamorous label, Trigere.

Rosa Halpern Designer and Founder The Namesake’s

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Rosa Halpern has garnered international praise and celebrity fans for her custom leather jackets by her label The Namesake. Rosa shares stories from her early days interning for some of American's most notable designers, how she got started designing jackets (it was bit of a fluke!) and reflects on the power of customizing clothing.

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In Conversation with Carolyn Rohaly: Author of the Fashionable Novel of Military Chic

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After volunteering at Toronto Fashion Week for four seasons, the backstage rush and outrageous industry rumours stuck with me. I knew I had an irresistible backstage story and had to write Military Chic. Everyone asks if any of the characters are real...

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Elizabeth Peyton Jones and Human Rights for Fashion Models

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In Conversation with Fashion Activist Elizabeth Peyton-Jones, founder of the Responsible Trust for Models, an international organization dedicated to revolutionizing the model industry.

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The Power and Process of Film/TV Costume Design

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The power and process of Costume Design for film and TV does far more than cloth the actors. It gives clues about character, informs the story, involves couture design and so much more. In conversation with 3 leading Costume Designers, Alex Kavanagh, Christine Toye and Leslie Kavanagh, share details of their process, on set stories and examples of when design is not just about clothing.

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Fashion in Museums: Why These Exhibits are Important

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Do fashion exhibitions belong within museums? Dr Alexandra Palmer, who oversees the third largest fashion and textile collection in world, discusses the relevancy and importance of fashion in cultural institutions. As a global authority on Christian Dior and curator of ground-breaking exhibits she is critical voice within the fashion industry.

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Kim Cloutier, Joe Zee and Vanessa Craft 

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In conversation with Canadian fashion model Kim Cloutier, and resident style experts including celebrity stylist Joe Zee and ELLE Canada’s Editor-in-Chief, Vanessa Craft, cast of the new design competition series STITCHED. Live from Toronto Fashion week they discuss how media is democratizing fashion, personal career stories and behind the scenes tidbits from this new series.

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Fashion and LGBTQ

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The relationship between fashion and the LGBTQplus community has a long history; from coded dressing in the 1800s to increasing gender fluidity with dressing to the AIDS crisis to the immense impact of M.A.C and Fashion Cares. Phillip Ing, now a special consultant to M.A.C Cosmetics after years as an executive, as well as the producer and artistic director of the immensely successful AIDS fundraiser Fashion Cares; and Jim Searle, co-founder and co-designer of the iconic fashion label Hoax Couture who has worked with Phillip on every year of Fashion Cares, discuss the historical roots of fashion and gay culture.

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Fashion and Diversity LIVE from Urbani_T

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The fashion industry is often one to lead cultural change. The issue of diversity in the industry as it relates to race, body and gender is a hot topic and Sage Paul, Haley Elsaesser and Adrienne Wu are leaders in the industry and activism inclusivity. This episode of Fashion Talks was recorded in front of a live audience as part of the Urbani_T festival in Toronto, ON.

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