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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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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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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Fashion and royalty have always gone hand in hand. From as far back as Queen Victoria the British Royals have influenced styles, trends and designer acclaim. Since Princess Diana this power gets ever more pronounced as she was, and now Princess Kate and Meghan Markle are, among the most photographed women in the world. Author Shinan Govani and designer Bojana Sentaler discuss the lasting impact the Royals have on fashion. 

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April 2018 marks the 5th year of the deadly collapse of Rana Plaza. A massive garment factory in Bangladesh that shocked the world over with its appalling working conditions. Fashion Revolution is a global movement rooted in demanding transparency for the garment industry around labour conditions, fair wages and environmental impact. Kelly Drenann, founder of Fashion Takes Action, and its creative director and longest collaborator, Sarah Jay, discuss the broad strokes of fashion and sustainability.

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There are a number of iconic luxury brands that have stood the test of time: Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Gucci to name a few. What do they have in common? What inventions influenced the growth and erosion of luxury fashion? Who has been bitten in the arse of expanding too fast? Nathalie Atkinson and Nicholas Mellamphy dissect the current arc of luxury fashion brands.

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