Thanks to everyone who attended our successful launch. We had a great time announcing our 2014 artists. For those of you who missed the launch, we have now posted our 2014 designers and will be posting sneak peeks of the projects in the new year!
NUTV covered our launch, check it out here:
Try your hand at some high tech hat making – bring your own hat or use ours – we supply the technology.
Hat & EL-Wire kit $50
If you bring your own tie or hat $25 ea
All proceeds go towards the MakeFashion Gala and 2014 designers.
MakeFashion Co-Founders Shannon and Maria Hoover were recently awarded with Avenue Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 award.
Avenue Calgary‘s Top 40 Under 40 celebrates Calgarians under the age of 40 who excel in their respective fields, give back to their community and raise the profile of the city.
We are excited to announce our designers for the 2014 gala.
The gala runway show celebrating wearable technology will take place in Calgary, AB. Venue TBA. Tickets available December 2013.
Our designers were announced at our launch event. Learn about our 2014 designers here.
UPDATE: The event has been rescheduled to Tuesday Oct 8th – hope to see you there!
MakeFashion, a collaborative initiative dedicated to exploring the convergence of fashion and technology, is thrilled to announce the 2014 MakeFashion Gala Launch Event.
Designers, artists and performers from Calgary and across the globe who are participating in the January, 2014 Gala and Runway Show will be announced during the cocktail reception. The evening will also feature a silent auction and live performances.
Draws and Prizes
Silent auction
Live Performances
And a great party!
Tickets are $20 and will not be sold at the door. E-mail info@makefashion.ca for tickets or visit our event on facebook here.
Confused by what wearable technology is, or how it might impact your life? Here’s a great PBS Video on the subject! Enjoy:
People often ask me why wearable technology matters; perhaps the assumption being that putting blinky lights on an outfit might be a cool fad, but it doesn’t go much beyond that. Well, that’s not the whole story by far!
We are currently engaged in a mobile technology revolution, but as we are also in a time of exponential technology advancement it means that the next revolution is just around the corner. There have been advancements in processing power, reductions in size, improvements in power consumption and innovations in battery technology – all of these things converging means that technology as we know it will begin to disappear, both in physical size and interface; and by doing so it will begin to integrate seamlessly and invisibly into our lives. Even now computing is shifting away from ‘devices’ and into everyday objects, and equipped with sensors these objects are beginning to gather information and provide value to our lives.
Alongside the disruption of computing we’re seeing huge changes in materials – 3d printing is happening on a micrometer scale allowing for the creation of incredibly detailed weaving of plastics and metals, and many new futuristic and meta-materials are on the horizon as well – everything from light as air insulators like aerogels to products that bend light around objects.
The most amazing thing of all is that these advancements are happening at once, converging on us from all directions which will inevitably lead to huge changes in the way we live and interact with the world around us.
Here’s a great video of designer Laura Dempsey’s piece, modeled by the always graceful Sara Bella! http://vimeo.com/62585630
And 10 new materials, coming to you from the future! http://lifeboat.com/ex/10.futuristic.materials
MakeFashion is looking for designers for our 2014 show!
MakeFashion is Calgary’s fashion and tech festival. The gala runway show is scheduled for January 2014. To see previous events, see our 2013 gala wrap-up or our video of the event here.
MakeFashion is looking for designers, artists, and tech enthusiasts to participate in the event. Applicants can be individual designers or teams. (for teams, please provide one point of contact per team)
Whether you’re an established fashion designer looking to expand your horizons, an up-and-coming creative, or a digital genius: MakeFashion is the opportunity to showcase your creativity and ingenuity.
If you don’t have a team already formed, we will work with you to create a team. We have a number of committed individuals who are passionate about making ideas come to life!
Applications should be in digital .pdf form and include:
-Piece title
-Brief artist/team biography and previous works (also include website if applicable)
-Description of design, concept and sketch of finished piece
-Outline of materials, resources, and approximate budget required
If you are an individual looking to join a team, a proposal isn’t necessary, please list your skills/interests and we will pair you with a team.
Designers/teams will receive a $500 artists fee and compensation of all materials up to $1000 per piece. Artists are eligible to discounts on certain materials ordered through the MakeFashion organization. Applications are competitive and will be reviewed based on creativity and innovative use of materials.
Applications should be sent in .pdf form to chelsea.klukas@gmail.com and are due Wednesday May 1st at 8:00PM
In order to answer questions and go over ideas we will be scheduling info sessions over the next few weeks. If you’re interested in attending or meeting separately just email us and we’ll arrange it.
The next info session is:
Monday April 15, 6 – 7pm at Endeavor Arts: 1209 1st St SW. Suite 200.
Feel free to bring your preliminary concepts. We will help you build your proposal and answer any questions about the submissions process. We will also go over the materials and possibilities and provide examples and inspiration, so this session is highly recommended for application success.
FAQs:
Can I have multiple pieces in the show?
Each designer/group is welcome to have as many pieces as they’d like in a series: however the artists fee and material compensation remain the same. Each proposal should adhere to one title/concept. Artists are welcome to submit multiple proposals and work with multiple teams.
What if my piece requires over $1000?
You are welcome to go above and beyond $1000, but $1000 is the maximum that MakeFashion will compensate per project.
What are my responsibilities/rights as a designer?
You designer contract gives you full ownership of your work and intellectual property. MakeFashion reserves the right to use your piece (when reasonably available) for showcasing and promoting the event for a time period of one year after the 2014 runway show. After this, you have full ownership of the piece and the rights to sell or repurpose it. MakeFashion reserves the right to use photography and video of the pieces for the promotion of MakeFashion. Designers are also responsible for assisting in promotion and ticket sales of the gala event and fundraisers.
I’m a designer but I have no idea how to integrate technology into my work.
No problem, part of MakeFashion is that we pair you with Calgary’s tech/maker community to give you the support you need. In your application please outline your skills and the missing pieces: we will pair you with a tech-savvy partner who will help you make your dreams come to life! (Some sharing of artists fees may be applicable)
I have a concept, but I don’t know if it’s possible to execute or what materials and budget I’ll need.
Our designers information sessions on March 11th and March 16th will allow you to talk to our team and get an idea of the materials, skills, and resources you will need to make your project happen. We will work with you to build a team.
I’m not a designer or an ideas person, but I’d love to help with sewing/technology/materials/etc.
Contact us and we will pair you with a designer/team: we’d love to have your help!
I’m a performer/model/dancer/makeup artist and would like to be involved.
Contact us and we will pair with you a team or designer.
I already have a wearable technology product in market: can I still apply?
For the 2013 runway show applications we are focusing on new projects and pieces. But we will have a place for showcasing pre-existing product lines. Contact us and we can discuss a way to feature your work at one of our events.
Applications should be sent in .pdf form to chelsea.klukas@gmail.com and are due Wednesday May 1st at 8:00PM
Wow! What a night!
Our first Gala and Runway show was an amazing night. Our event sold out days before the show and our fabulous designers amazed the audience with their skill and creativity.
Designer Kyle Nylund’s “Grandstand” features performer Geoffrey Szuszkiewicz in a two-hoop performance. Photo: Jeff McDonald Photography
The show began with performances from La Gogue and Hoop Around. The go-go dancers sported light-up corsets and glowing hula-hoops as they warmed up the audience for the evening. Throughout the event, justcocktails.org served their signature Make Cocktail molecular cocktails selections.
The runway show began with Ferro Fuse by Melissa Skowron and Casey Hughes, showcasing beautiful jewellery infused with ferrofluid technology. Maria Orduz’s runway piece was next, a gown enhanced with sparkling LEDs that brought to mind a sky full of stars. Night Envy followed with exciting club wear including light-up fedoras, ties, and apparel. Vlad Lavrovsky’s Synthesia launched a never-before-seen innovative wearable accessory, appropriately matched with an upbeat soundtrack and light show.
Laura Dempsey amazed the audience with her motion-sensitive runway dress. Designed with a dancer in mind, the dress responded to the dancer’s movements as she danced and leaped across the runway.
Laura Dempsey’s motion-sensitive dress. Photo: Zev Vitaly Abosh for Fashionsign Magazine
Kath Blair’s mood-sensitive garment took the stage next, followed by Angela Dale’s awe-inspiring “Chameleon Cocktail Dress”. Both dresses were a hit with the crowd and photographers as they showcased the exciting capabilities of programmable LED strips within clothing.
Angela Dale’s Chameleon Cocktail dress was synched to the music and fully-programmable. Photo: Jeff McDonald.
The next segment of the show featured an unexpected live keyboard/vocal performance to launch the “Dori” shine collection jewellery designed by Dorian Kominek. As the singer proclaimed “shine bright like a diamond”, Dorian’s models walked the runway with beautiful light-up earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Kyle Nylund continued the performance theme with a breathtaking show by hoop artist Geoffery Szuszkiewicz. Kyle’s piece featured hand-dyed fabric, leather and a primal headdress contrasted with a two high-tech hoops that seemed to multiply as they spun.
The finale of the show was a third piece from the Night Envy team from designers Betsy Hinze, Felicity Hard, Carsen Kendall, Vlad Lavrovsky and Shawn Grover. A regal figure in a ball gown appeared on the runway paired with two male models. The crowd cheered as the models ripped off their shirts to reveal luminescent “tattoos” across their chess. This edgy and innovative finale left everyone with a smile on their face as the models and designers walked the runway for a final bow.
Fairytales come to life with Night Envy’s performance. Photo credit: Zev Vitaly Abosh/Fashionsign magazine.
Huge thanks to everyone who attended the event: we hope you had as much fun watching as we did putting it on! The pieces from the runway show will be on display at events throughout the year: keep checking our website or like us on facebook to keep in the loop.
Another huge thanks to our sponsors and community partners: Awesome Foundation Calgary, Victoria Park BRZ, WestJet, Justccocktails.org, Chelsea Klukas Creative, 22nd Century Social Club, Beakerhead, Yelp, Calgary 2012, Endeavor Arts, Evolved Productions, Protospace, EGroup Canada furniture, Ingenuity Couture, La Gogue, Hoop Around, and Make3d!
We would also like to thank Solarbotics for all of their technical help, Designing on the Edge, Arti CAL and Personalize it Fashion for their garment expertise. Thanks to Ben Reed for his late nights with the laser cutter, Arielle Land for her tweeting expertise, Kevin Loney for his beautiful box making expertise, Vlad Lavrovsky for going above and beyond with his help on the catwalk and lightwall (the lightsmabob!) and Jason Bedard for volunteer help.
We also couldn’t do it without our amazing volunteers – thanks everyone!
Thanks again Calgary for your support, we can’t wait to start planning for next year!
See more photos of the event at these galleries:
Zev Vitaly Abosh for FashionSign
We will have more photos and videos to share soon!
New date: Jan 25th 2013
The MakeFashion initiative is a collaboration of great minds who want to demonstrate that the convergence of Technology and Art can result in a form, fashion and community brand new to Calgary. Creativity and innovation are the guiding principles to unit fashion, jewelry and accessories designers with software and hardware engineers. Along with technology enthusiasts, creatives and those that just simply like to engage in cultural experiments – all are invited to participate in the MakeFashion event series.
The MakeFashion Gala is the highlight of the festival, featuring innovative work by local designers.
The event will feature innovative cocktails, exciting performances and a runway show from our designers.
Facebook Event link: https://www.fac
Tickets available here: http://makefashiongala.eventbrite.com/
Ferro Fuse: Melissa Skowron and Casey Hughes
The concept of Ferro Fuse is to provide the Calgary community with a new, functional way of interacting with ferrofluid technology – as fashion and art. The properties of the ferrofluid contained within a display vessel, and embedded as part of an ensemble of other fashion designs serves to solidify the connection between art, fashion, and technology.
Maria Orduz
Maria Orduz is a Colombian Born Fashion Designer. She discovered her love for the industry at an early age, often watching international runway shows and attempting some sketches of her own. This love took her to Toronto, where she graduated Top 20 in the Fashion Techniques and Design program at George Brown College.
Maria has been involved in the Calgary fashion scene since 2009 participating in Alberta Fashion Week, Designing for local film “ The Subliminal Rabbit Presents” and “ The Golden Ticket Charity Gala”. She has also been recognized for her participation in “Triumph’s international Inspiration Award” placing Top 10 ( Featured in Elle Canada), Metro News “Wearable Art Contest” ( second place) and has been recognized by Avenue Magazine ( Calgary) as one of the Top 10 Designers to watch. Maria hopes to portray her love for creativity with the MakeFashion Project, creating a beautiful garment with elements foreign to the designer.
Kathryn Blair
Kath has lived all of her life in Calgary except four years she spent in Vancouver studying visual art at the University of British Columbia, and is now spending her days as an arts marketer and her evenings, nights and early mornings as a visual artist. .She likes art because she likes having her mind blown, so she likes exploring ideas that tie her brain in knots, confuse, or fascinate her, and the intersection between technology and art is a great way to do that – so she’s super excited to be part of make:fashion.
Dee Fontans
Dee Fontans is one of your Cultural Ambassadors for Calgary 2012. She has dedicated her working career and life to the development of the arts as a master craftsman, volunteer and educator. Ms. Fontans studied fashion design at Parsons and received her BFA inMetalsmithing at the New York State University. Dee defines herself as an autodidactic polymath and multimedia artist. Project: City Lights – The city lights in the night shine so bright it’s quite the sight. The cocktail dress “City Lights” combines Canadian architecture, art and technology. The dress is an interruption of the light show in the Calgary cityscape.
Laura Dempsey
Laura Dempsey is a designer with a degree in architecture from Dalhousie University and a particular interest in light and its many incredible qualities. She has lived in London (UK), New York, Halifax, and Boston, but is happy to be back in Calgary and to have the opportunity to immerse herself in the city’s vibrant design community. Her previous wearable artworks were presented at the NSCAD Wearable Art Show, where she was awarded the Juror’s Prize.
Angela Dale
Angela Dale is a costume designer with over 25 years of experience working in theatre, film, opera and dance. She is intrigued by the marriage of technology and design and excited about the possibilities this creates.
Project: The “Chameleon Cocktail Dress” and headdress uses LED’s and micro controller technology to create an animated color changing high fashion garment.
Kyle Nylund
Kyle Nylund is a practicing artist and designer working in the Calgary area. He holds a BFA from the Alberta College of Art and Design. Kyle is very inspired by contemporary fashion and aspects of gender. His work often reflects these influences using a wide variety of materials to create art on the body.
Team Night Envy
Night Envy is committed to producing and providing one of a kind fashion articles that can help the user become the focal point of any party environment. For over a year we have been lighting up parties across the country and now we want to do the same for you!
