Resilience on the runway at Vancouver Fashion Week

By Mata Press Service

The transformative power of fashion to promote inclusivity and challenge traditional notions of beauty will be on full display at Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) 2024 - the largest and longest-running event of its kind in Canada.

The 6-day extravaganza beginning April 23, which will feature over 50 designers from around the globe, promises to be an unforgettable fashion showcase that transcends boundaries and inspires change.

This year’s Spring event will include a group of 18 cancer survivors who will walk the runway, modeling outfits by featured designers.

Organised in partnership with the Vancouver-based Atira Women's Resource Society, the cancer survivors from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, will embody their spirit of resilience as they grace the catwalk, said VFW.
Another highlight of the show will be presented by the Vancouver-based Alleles Design Studio, which is renowned for its innovative and stylish prosthetic covers. The company builds customized skins with different artwork and patterns to help shift mainstream perceptions of what disability looks like.

Alleles designs “are customized for your body, your story, and your style,” said the company.

“The presence of breast cancer survivors and Alleles at VFW underscores our commitment to breaking stereotypes, redefining beauty standards, championing diversity, and showcasing the resilience and strength of individuals who face adversity,” said Jamal Abdourahman, the visionary founder of Vancouver Fashion Week.

"At Vancouver Fashion Week, diversity is our greatest strength. We bring together incredible design talent from across Canada and the world, presenting forward-thinking creative concepts to the industry. Fashion is truly global, and it's inspiring to witness such a diverse mix of designers all under one roof here in Vancouver," said Abdourahman.

“I see fashion as an instant language…a language that can help project Vancouver’s attractiveness on a different level and for that reason I would like the world to see Vancouver for what it wears.”

Established in 2001, Vancouver Fashion Week is an organization that was created to support Canadian and International fashion designers, as well as the fashion industry itself. It is now the second-largest fashion week in North America and one of the fastest-growing fashion weeks worldwide.

Vancouver Fashion Week has also expanded its reach through the Global Fashion Collective (GFC), which was launched in 2017. The GFC is an initiative to further promote the most promising designers on a global scale, including at major fashion weeks in New York, Tokyo, and Paris.

Alongside the adult runway events, VFW also stages the Vancouver Kids Fashion Week, underscoring its inclusive and comprehensive approach to fashion.

Visit vanfashionweek.com for more information about tickets, schedules and the designers.