Events

Johnnie Walker Unveils Exclusive Collaboration with Angel Chen in Celebration of Lunar New Year

Johnnie Walker — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 13:00:46 +0000

Every year, the legendary Johnnie Walker celebrates Lunar New Year with a limited-edition design of its Blue Label bottle. This year, the award-winning spirit has collaborated with Shanghai-based designer Angel Chen to release a unique and collectable design.

Chen is part of the next generation who are making an impact locally and globally. As one of fashion’s brightest young talents, Chen is best known for smashing gender norms and reinventing the tradition of fashion. The Chinese designer’s signature colourful approach to fashion fuses Eastern and Western aesthetics and is often inspired by different generations, cultures, and genders.

The partnership between the vanguard Chinese brand with Johnnie Walker’s Blue Label is a natural fit given the synergy between arts, culture, and luxury lifestyle. Both Chen and Walker began the pursuit of their crafts at a young age; Chen is recognized for mixing textures and styles while Walker started his trade by blending spices and teas before moving into whisky. Chen is brave, bold, and expressive in her works, just like Blue Label, which is higher proof than the brand’s other blends—46 versus the regular 40 per cent—for a smokier result.

For the Year of the Rabbit, Chen has etched three modern interpretations of the 2023 Chinese zodiac animal in 18k gold jumping through a lush mountainous landscape on the iconic Blue Label bottle. Symbolizing the concept of striving forward–just like Johnnie Walker’s striding man logo and the brand’s motto, Keep Walking–the prancing rabbit also represents mercy, elegance, longevity and beauty.

The vibrant blue design was inspired by the depth of character found in Blue Label’s blend that uses the rarest, most exceptional whiskies from Johnnie Walker’s precious reserves, and captures the highly complex, yet perfectly balanced, whisky as vivid layers of colour. It’s an eye-catching tribute to Johnnie Walker Master Blender Emma Walker and her team’s expert craftsmanship of the blended whisky with its signature rich and smoky flavours expressed in each sip.

To celebrate the festive season and the latest of the Zodiac Collection Series, Johnnie Walker hosted Toronto’s most notable and fashionable creators and socialites for a one-of-a-kind fashion presentation at the Shangri-La Toronto in partnership with Holt Renfrew.

Embodying elegance, luxury, and self-expression, the evening welcomed guests to a grand red, gold and rabbit-themed ballroom where they sipped on well-balanced cocktails that Johnnie Walker’s Canadian brand ambassador Dante Raphael Concepcion Jr. created for the event. The team at the Shangri-La was also enlisted to help launch the limited edition Lunar New Year collaboration, curating a menu of auspicious foods that paired with each cocktail.

Once seated, guests were treated to an energetic Chinese lion dance which was eagerly captured by a room of flickering mobile phones. To the delight of the well-dressed crowd, the performance turned contemporary when the sound of a traditional drum and cymbals transitioned to electronic beats, with the lions taking on new dance moves along with colourful LED-lit attire.

Enhanced by art and culture, the experience paired the exceptional Scotch whisky with both fashion and culinary arts. Between sips of Blue Label-based cocktails, guests were privy to a presentation by Holt Renfrew which showcased couture looks for the Lunar New Year. It was an experience that resonated with those who have an appreciation for luxury and exclusivity, especially noting that the unrivalled masterpiece is made from a combination of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies.

From waves of spice, vanilla and honey to hazelnut, sherry and dark chocolate notes to a warm smoky finish, Johnnie Walker Blue Label is an extraordinary whisky for extraordinary occasions. Give the gift of elegance and luxury to the whisky lover in your life with a bottle of the exclusive, limited-edition Angel Chen-designed Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Rabbit. The only thing more luxurious, is to have it engraved with the name of its recipient.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label X Angel Chen Lunar New Year limited edition design is available at the LCBO.

Swipe through our gallery of images from the luxurious evening below:

1/40

2/40

3/40

4/40

5/40

6/40

7/40

8/40

9/40

10/40

11/40

12/40

13/40

14/40

15/40

16/40

17/40

18/40

19/40

20/40

21/40

22/40

23/40

24/40

25/40

26/40

27/40

28/40

29/40

30/40

31/40

32/40

33/40

34/40

35/40

36/40

37/40

38/40

39/40

40/40

The post Johnnie Walker Unveils Exclusive Collaboration with Angel Chen in Celebration of Lunar New Year appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s “Naked” Dress + Other Highlights from FASHION’s Cake Mix Party

Annika Lautens — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 17:55:36 +0000

At FASHION’s Cake Mix party held June 9 at Space on King, the dessert references hit as soon as one stepped into the gallery-like venue. Guests were met with a larger-than-life cake slice sculpture, melting “icing” decals offered the perfect photo backdrop, and upstairs an OGX-branded wall of candy floss provided a sugary treat.

Held to celebrate the release of FASHION’s Summer 2022 issue starring Symone, and the beginning of Toronto Pride, Cake Mix brought together the city’s stylish glitterati, the LGBTQIA2S+ community and cake lovers of all kinds. The event was also a fundraiser for the Rainbow Railroad, with a live auction for a painting by Terran McNeely. You can bid on the piece here until June 9 at 7:59 p.m. ET.

Entertainment and edibles included petite red velvet pancakes, a tarot card reading session, an impromptu blowout (thank you Chatters Hair Salon!), and an energetic performance by Juno-nominated artist Ceréna. And maybe it was just the fragrance from all the food, but the air in the room somehow seemed sweeter.

Photography by George Pimentel Photography

Guests were encouraged to dress colourfully with Valentino pink the most popular hue. Neon was another favourite, most decadently worn by Miss Moco during her performance on the BOSS stage, alongside DJ Karim Olen Ash. However, the best-dressed award of the night goes to the influencer, model and activist Myles Sexton. Posing for pix in the Jean Paul Gaultier room, they wore a dress screen printed with a naked woman’s body by the designer.

See the Gaultier gown, sourced from SSENSE, in the gallery below where we’ve rounded up all the most memorable looks from FASHION’s Cake Mix party.

Special thanks to the following:

Jean Paul Gaultier, BOSS, OGX, Chatters, Bayview Village, Sugar Moon Salon, MAC, Space on King, Gato Negro Wine, Green Owl Vodka, Perrier, Rainbow Railroad, Terran McNeely, Ceréna, Miss Moco, Myles Sexton, Karim Olen Ash.

Photography by George Pimentel Photography

1/32

2/32

3/32

4/32

5/32

6/32

7/32

8/32

9/32

10/32

11/32

12/32

13/32

14/32

15/32

16/32

17/32

18/32

19/32

20/32

21/32

22/32

23/32

24/32

25/32

26/32

27/32

28/32

29/32

30/32

31/32

32/32

The post Jean Paul Gaultier’s “Naked” Dress + Other Highlights from FASHION’s Cake Mix Party appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Toronto Galas Resume with Bloor Street Entertains Fundraiser for CANFAR

Bernadette Morra — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 19:55:57 +0000

The Toronto gala scene came bouncing back on Nov. 25 with Bloor Street Entertains, an annual fundraiser for the Canadian Foundation for Aids Research (CANFAR). Last year’s event was a virtual one, like many charity fundraisers over the past 20 months. But the CANFAR team carefully plotted to ensure that this year’s 25th anniversary edition was a safe in-person soirée.

More than 850 guests gathered in a range of locations on or near Bloor Street and at several after-party spots further afield.

CANFAR ambassadors appeared at each venue of Bloor Street Entertains to share the story of how their lives have been impacted by the virus. “I was born with full-blown Aids,” 23-year-old Ashley Rose Murphy told a rapt crowd at Tiffany & Co. Her early years were filled with hospital visits – “I thought all kids did that,” she shared. But when she was seven, her adoptive parents told her the real reason for all the doctor appointments. Thanks to advances in treatment and one pill a day, Murphy lives a relatively normal life, though not without stigma. “A bunch of parents at my school got together and told the principal they wanted me out because of my health status,” she recalls. “That principal stood up for me and told them their kids could leave; I was staying.”

Fighting stigma is one effort the $1.1 million raised will go towards. Another is spreading the word about self-testing kits, which became available in Canada last year. More than 65,000 Canadians are living with HIV, though 14 per cent aren’t aware of their status. CANFAR’s goal is to eliminate new HIV transmissions in Canada by 2025 through increased prevention.

Click through to see photos from the event.

Four seasons after party. Photography by George Pimentel

Clio After Party. Photography by George Pimentel

Louis Vuitton dinner. Photography by George Pimentel

Park Hyatt dinner. Photography by George Pimentel

Tiffany & Co dinner. Photography by George Pimentel

Yorkville Village dinner. Photography by George Pimentel

Four Seasons dinner. Photography by George Pimentel

Lumas dinner. Photography by George Pimentel

Holt Renfrew dinner. Photography by George Pimentel

1/19

2/19

3/19

4/19

5/19

6/19

7/19

8/19

9/19

10/19

11/19

12/19

13/19

14/19

15/19

16/19

17/19

18/19

19/19

The post Toronto Galas Resume with Bloor Street Entertains Fundraiser for CANFAR appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Stella McCartney Imagines a Nature-Positive Fashion Industry in COP26 Exhibit

Natalie Michie — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 18:20:17 +0000

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) commenced in Glasgow this week as international leaders face mounting pressure to unearth solutions to the fashion industry’s role in the climate crisis. On November 3, designer Stella McCartney — a crusader for sustainability since creating her luxury label in 2001 — gave the summit’s attendees a taste of what those solutions could be in a flourishing installation.

Titled “Future of Fashion: An innovation conversation with Stella McCartney,” the COP26 exhibit invited guests to imagine a “nature-positive” fashion industry through an exploration of the brand’s next-generation materials. Hosted at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, “Future of Fashion” is part of Prince Charles’s Sustainable Market Initiative (SMI) and is aligned with its Terra Carta charter, designed to provide blueprint for businesses to move towards a sustainable future by 2030.

The installation features mannequins in sustainably-made ensembles alongside natural materials, including Bolt Threads’ Mylo mycelium “unleather”; the world’s first vegan soccer cleats, created by Stella McCartney in partnership with French soccer player Paul Pogba and Adidas; regenerative organic cotton from Söktaş; and Evrnu NuCycl- and Econyl-regenerated nylon sourced from post-consumer waste and ocean plastics. Materials are enclosed by glass and surrounded by sculptures of living fungi in the same vein as the designer’s Summer 2022 runway show, where models adorned sustainable pieces in a venue resembling the shape of a mushroom cap.

Photography courtesy of Stella McCartney

The Prince of Wales was present at the exhibit’s unveiling, and received a one-on-one tour from McCartney (the British designer famously created Meghan Markle’s wedding reception dress). Also in attendance was actor Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his support of environmental causes.

Stella McCartney is using the installation to promote the anti-fur movement by inviting COP26 delegates and the public to sign a pledge to end the use of animal leather and fur in the fashion industry. Before it became mainstream in the world of fashion, McCartney opposed the use of animal derived materials like leather, fur, skins and feathers in her collections. Today, nearly 45 per cent of the brand’s operations run on 100 per cent renewable, green energy, as reported by Elle.

Photography courtesy of Stella McCartney

“This is the Decisive Decade and if we do not act decisively, we know the consequences,” said McCartney in a press release. “A football pitch is disappearing from the Amazon every minute and 80 percent of that area is being used for animal agriculture. The future of fashion and our planet is vegan. I hope that by representing our industry and revealing my current material innovations at COP26, I can inspire action among private sector and government leaders by driving more nature-positive investments and incentives.”

Photography courtesy of Stella McCartney

The exhibit, running until November 5 and reopening from November 8 to 9, will host discussions from youth climate leaders, the British Fashion Council (BFC) and UK’s The Great Campaign.

Through the “Future of Fashion,” the designer is yet again championing sustainability, while calling on other fashion figures to do the same. “To not collaborate now would be an injustice to future generations and to those already suffering the worst of climate change’s effects,” she continued. “This is our chance and I do not believe in waste.”

The post Stella McCartney Imagines a Nature-Positive Fashion Industry in COP26 Exhibit appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

#SheEarnedIt: An International Women’s Day Conversation Presented by FASHION and TikTok

FASHION staff — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:15:06 +0000

Join us at #SheEarnedIt: A Conversation Presented by FASHION x TikTok on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. ET. We will celebrate International Women’s Day with a panel of inspiring TikTok creators and entrepreneurs.

Listen in on an exclusive conversation with host Jennifer Berry, FASHION’s digital director, and these Canadian small business owners as we chat about what it means to be a woman entrepreneur in 2021 and how the pandemic has changed things for each of them.

Sana Saleh, Lala Hijabs
Monica Abramov and Anastassia Boguslavskaya, Lunata Beauty
Liz Bertorelli, Passionfruit
Eden Hagos, BLACK FOODIE

Please note attendance is limited so RSVP as soon as possible as you don’t want to miss out! All guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, plus get a chance to win a subscription to FASHION Magazine.

Click on the following button to RSVP for this engaging event, and we will share the link to the virtual platform closer to the date!

RSVP Now

The post #SheEarnedIt: An International Women’s Day Conversation Presented by FASHION and TikTok appeared first on FASHION Magazine.