Amanda Silliker

Ottawa is known as the city of the Sens, Parliament and Beavertails, but two Ottawa-based companies are determined to add “fashion” to the list. For the second time ever, the Canadian International Modeling Agency and Substance Magazine are hosting Ottawa Fashion Week Nov. 12-15 at the National Arts Centre. The companies are working together in an attempt to change how people view fashion in the capital.

“People think Ottawa is strictly a government city and no one has any taste, but that’s not true,” said Rania Abdulla, designer coordinator and stylist for Ottawa Fashion Week. “We may not be as vibrant, loud or eclectic as Montreal or Toronto, but we are more than just parliament buildings- yes, we will always be the capital first but we are also a fashionable city.”

Over the past few years, avant-garde boutiques have been opening up, many located in the Glebe, on Dalhousie St., and in Westboro, and Ottawa has been slowly building a name for itself on the fashion scene.

Ashley Parsons is a student in Abdulla’s fashion merchandising course at Algonquin College. She is also the designer for Sugar Bum Designs based in Ottawa and she participated in the first ever Ottawa Fashion Week in May. Parsons insists that fashion is already “huge” in the city and fashion week is sure to plant the fashion bug in all remaining skeptics once and for all.

“I am so done with people saying ‘this is Ottawa or that is Ottawa’ in a way that is not conducive to the inherent possibilities of fun and creativity of this city,” she said. “People need to shed that drab bureaucratically-toned overcoat and get with the program.”

Twenty designers will be showcasing their spring/summer 2009 collections at fashion week and are from all over North America. Some designers include Carmelita Couture, Ashley Zaba, Jana Hanzel, and Melissa Clemente. Designer Ashley Zaba says she was excited to participate in hopes of making some new contacts with agents, models, hair and makeup artists, photographers and members of the media.

“I would also really like to speak with store buyers to increase where Ashley Zaba is sold,” she added. “Every bit of publicity helps when you are starting up in this business!”

While the majority of the collections will focus on women’s wear, some designers will be presenting men’s clothing as well. If this event goes as well as the first, CIMA and Substance Magazine would like to continue hosting two fashion weeks every year in Ottawa.

Trends may come and go, but Parsons says she doesn’t think there will be a problem keeping this one alive.

“[Ottawa Fashion Week] will be the figurative stamp that says ‘we care about fashion and it’s a blossoming presence in Ottawa’s urban life,’” she said. “We are the capital of Canada so the stage is set for us to be seen. Bring on the runway!”

Tickets are $10 per show or $25 for a day pass and can be purchased online at www.ottawafashionweek.ca

For more information, please contact: Harmeet Singh, Public Relations

(613) 620-1239 hsingh@ottawafashionweek.ca<–>