For his womenswear collection for Spring/Summer 2013, shown as part of London Fashion Week’s official calendar on 14 September 2012, Jean-Pierre Braganza unveiled a range of clothes that resulted from an enriching collaboration with Ukranian artist Zinaida Lihacheva. Prints created by Lihacheva that explored organic forms in vivid colours contrasted with the sharp angularities, intricate tailoring, and sensual draping that Braganza has been known for. Born in London to an Irish mother and Asian father, Jean-Pierre Braganza moved to Canada at an early age. He grew up in Montreal and Toronto, and studied Fine Arts before realising that fashion was his true calling. After a stint studying Fashion, Braganza moved to London where he was accepted directly into the second year of the Womenswear programme at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Upon graduating in 2002 with a ‘First’ (the top grade in the UK system) in the main area of study, his talent was rewarded with the Colin Barns award for illustration. During his days at Central Saint Martins, Braganza developed his skills while working with British avant-garde fashion designer Robert Cary-Williams. This experience provided the training needed to understand the deconstructive processes of fashion and to develop the dedication required for working with hard materials such as leather. After graduation, he joined Roland Mouret where he honed his tailoring skills and learned an appreciation for detail. His initial capsule collection was presented in Milan in 2003 and he went on to present his first full collection of men’s and women’s wear at London Fashion Week in February 2004 where he has since shown every season. Having gained a strong international following over the years, he has shown his designs in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania and Ukraine, and his clothes are available in retailers in Australia, China, Cyprus, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, and USA.

Spring/Summer 2013 is a season to be excited about. Stripes, brights and other fashion delights debuted, offering up some fun and fresh trends worth investing in. Smarten up that wardrobe and step into spring with these easy-to-wear trends freshly picked from the world’s runways. Peek-a-Boo Peek-a-boo cutouts offer a more playful, conservative approach to showing a little flesh. Simple and intricately cut details are trending on tops and dresses, found on necklines, right below bust lines and waistlines. The slits let all body types play with sexing up even the most conservatively designed garment. Walk the Line Marc Jacobs set the standard for this spring trend, pairing up stripes top to bottom for a high contrast look. Go bold and mix and match with varying patterns for a fashion forward feel, or keep it simple matching stripes with solid basics. Bright On Spring hatched some shockingly bright colours, bordering on neon at times. Jenni Kayne decked out models in electrifying pink pantsuits while Diane von Furstenberg paired fluorescent green with aqua for a juicy colour combination. Be brave and play matchy-matchy, layering one bright on top of another for a chic monochromatic ensemble. Short and Sweet Short suits are the essential trend for women this season. Take this put-together look from nine-to-five straight into cocktail hour following the lead of designers such as Jil Sander, Carven, Jenni Kayne and Marissa Web who perfected the look with well-tailored blazers and shorts in high-end fabrics and feminine details.  

It’s an exciting time for us at Mode Models, as we are entering our fifth season supporting Western Canada Fashion Week! We shot five models wearing five Edmontonain designers to celebrate our partnership with the start up. The image proudly commemorates the growing fashion community and our collaborations with talented Edmonton designers in the last few years. Supporting local talent and bringing light to Edmonton’s burgeoning fashion industry has been of utmost importance to us. WCFW has served as a fantastic training platform for fresh faces looking to gain experience on the runway and many of those promising young models are taking the skills learned at the Transalta Arts Barns to propel themselves forward in the international market. Since March 2011 we have been honoured to support Malorie Urbanovitch, Angelique Chmielewski, LUXX, Suka, and Nicole Campre among others. Malorie started working as a stylist for Mode Models. She started showing her eponymous ready to wear line in October 2010 and since then she has been featured in Fashion Magazine and British Vogue. Nicole Campre won WCFW’s inaugural Emerging Designer competition in April 2012. After getting a head start locally by designing for Loft 82, she is now moving forward with her ready to wear line. Nicole has also been featured in Fashion Magazine and British Vogue. Angelique Chmielewski is now based out of New York after graduating from New York’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology and working under contemporary designer Yigal Azrouel. Her collection can be found at Coup Garment Boutique. Designers Alisha Schick of Suka Clothing and Derek Jagodzinsky of LUXX RTW have been local design darlings for many years. Alisha celebrated 10 years with her women’s line last year and teaches fashion design and illustration at MC College to the next generation when she isn’t designing her next collection. Derek graduated from the U of A with a Bachelor of Design, followed by an internship in New York with Michael Kaye Couture. In his spare time he is a graphic designer for WCFW and Phabrik Magazine as well heavily involved with their initiatives to support local designers. Both designers stock their wares locally at Bamboo Ballroom (Suka) and Thread Hill (LUXX). These five local trendsetters have received incredible national and international attention, and are quickly raising the bar for the next generation of local artists. We chose to celebrate them as they continue to push the limits of Edmonton fashion and take it to new heights. We look forward to watching these talented individuals continue to grow in the next five seasons.

- Photographer: Ernest studio-e.ca - Photo Assistant: Angela MobergMake Up: James KershawHair: Sandy Tang - Art Director/Stylist: Sandra Sing Fernandes - Models: Julian PHABRIK artist management - Featuring musician Martin Johann Kloppers - Location: Red Piano

- Photography: Amanda Diaz - Photo Assistant: Ferd Isaac - Makeup: James Kershaw - Hair Stylists: Chantal Girard, Jami Cuglietta, Sandy Tang - Art Director/Stylist: Sandra Sing Fernandes

- Photographs by Ernest at studio-e.ca - Hair by Pam Poch for Davines Artistic Team - Makeup by James Kershaw - Styled by Sandra Sing Fernandes - Models Dustin, Marie at Numa Models

Designer Profile - Photographs by Pederson - Assisted by Corrie Side, Paulo Novales Caringal - Makeup by Nickol Walkemeyer and Amber Miller - Hair by Chantel Girard, Sandy Tang, Julian Scott, Simon De Nault, Melodie Savard for Davines - Models Janessa, Ashley T. Autumn, Beatrice, Emily, Mackenzie, Alex, Danielle, Linda at Mode Models - Shoes by Gravity Pope

- Photographs by Harry Fellows - Hair by Kozmo Hair NYC - Makeup by Andrew Colvin - Styled by Sandra Sing Fernandes - Alexandra M. Fusion Model Management NYC - Location Craig Van Den Brulle Gallery NYC - Photo Retouching by Elena Rott

- Photographs by Amanda Bruns  at Jump - Styled by Brendan Cannon at Judy Casey - Makeup by Deborah Altizio at Agent Oliver - Hair by Andrea Wilson at Ford - Kit at Mc2

- Photographs by Ernest, studio-e.ca - Assisted by Chris Chan - Makeup by James Kershaw - Hair by Kelly Bula - Styled by Sandra Sing Fernandes - Models Michelle, Paula at PHABRIK artist+model management - Location PHABRIK art+design