Designers

Born in Gonaïves, Haiti, Helmer Joseph has traversed the world of fashion. In his early career, Helmer began with training as a men's tailor. Subsequently, Helmer pursued further education in several institutions, including ESMOD in Paris, Lesage School where he mastered embroidery, the School of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne (now known as the French Institute of Fashion), and LaSalle College in Montreal. Over a span of 20 years, Helmer worked for renowned fashion houses, including Thierry Mugler and Christian Dior in Paris. Throughout his career, Helmer Joseph also collaborated with numerous artistic and museum institutions, such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts during the Thierry Mugler exhibition in 2018. In 2021, at the request of the prestigious design education university, Helmer Joseph joined the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) to initiate a training and professional development program for future fashion designers from Quebec and Canada. Additionally, Helmer Joseph is the founding director of a fashion and arts school in Jacmel, Haiti. Today, Helmer continues to develop his collections while imparting his knowledge and techniques to the next generations. 

Greta Constantine is an accessible luxury line of ready-to-wear womenswear based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 2006 by Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, the label is named after Wong's mother, Greta, and Pickersgill's grandfather, Constantine. Now designed solely by Pickersgill, Greta Constantine is available in over 40 stores worldwide across 15 countries, including high-end retailers like Holt Renfrew and Selfridges, as well as online platforms Moda Operandi and Farfetch. The Toronto-based team continues to push the boundaries of contemporary fashion for the modern woman.

Perfecting the women's blazer since 2004, SMYTHE has grown into a multi-faceted fashion brand with a sixth sense for contemporary style. Friends for over thirty years, founders and co-designers Andrea Lenczner and Christie Smythe have channeled their diverse backgrounds into a shared vision in SMYTHE.

Overseeing their independent, Toronto-based business together, they have expanded beyond individual tailored pieces to ready-to-wear collections. SMYTHE now exists as a distinctive 360- degree lifestyle wardrobe. With an ambition towards retail expansion, the first boutique opened in 2022, followed by the launch of a fragrance. Maintaining a dedicated following and embraced by high-profile women over the past 20 years, SMYTHE will always be synonymous with impeccably constructed clothes that embolden the women who wear them.

ALEX S. YU creates collections of garments that explore the fine line between reality and fantasy. His aesthetics rollick the happy emotions of childhood, nostalgia and wanderlust; and ponder the very definition of femininity in a modern, quirky way through garments. The ALEX S. YU girl loves to have fun, and isn't afraid of trying new things. They love colour, prints, quirky shapes, textures, and most importantly, values comfort. They are eccentric, lively, nonchalant and views life through a pair of rose tinted glasses. ALEX S. YU creates a line of contemporary womenswear with a twist of avant garde experimental attitude. He plays with proportions, colour blocking and unusual silhouettes while mixing and using different colours and fabric weights in one garment.

Trippy Hippy is a brand that aims to inspire, injecting vibrant hues and a touch of psychedelic craziness into the world. Drawing influences from the free-spirited vibes of the hippy culture, the rugged charm of the cowboy era, and a dash of captivating psychedelia, Trippy Hippy is a maximalist dream come true. We keep the planet in mind, producing our designs in small quantities within our cozy studio nestled in Calgary, Alberta. Our approach to creating is rooted in the principles of slow fashion, steering clear of the fast-paced, wasteful cycles that dominate the industry. We challenge the status quo by working with recycled materials, salvaging deadstock fabrics, and crafting our own prints. This may pose challenges, but it serves as an essential statement—a reminder of the profound impact the fashion industry has on our environment.

Founded in January 2020, Combinist is the go-to Canadian brand for ultra-lightweight, bold, colourful statement accessories. The foundation of Combinist is play - play with light, play with colour, play with transparencies, and play with shapes. What distinguishes Combinist from other jewellery brands is the ability to mix, match and “combine” almost any components to create one-of-a-kind wearable art. To date, Combinist offers 150+ jewellery designs with endless opportunities for unique pieces.
Designer and Founder Kristen Scharf (she/her) is a multidisciplinary creative with a background in both fine arts and graphic design with a long affinity for statement jewellery. Kristen has been recognized as an Emerging Talent in Accessory Design by the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards and has been nominated as a finalist for her earrings for the Etsy Design Awards. She holds a BFA from the Alberta University of the Arts. She created the Combinist brand for those just like her - individuals who are not afraid of bold, graphic, colourful style.
Combinist is based and manufactured in Calgary, Alberta.