Toronto’s World MasterCard Fashion Week is rapidly climbing the ranks of legitimacy and importance on the international stage, and designer Sid Neigum is playing a big role in helping the event grow. The conceptual Canadian designer, who has stockists in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Seoul, was declared this year’s winner of the Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition, an ongoing initiative that supports and promotes emerging Canadian designers.
The award comes with a $30,000 bursary that will be administered by a mentoring team of industry experts who will ensure that the funds are used to the greatest benefit of Neigum’s business. He will also receive editorial support from Canada’s FASHION magazine as well as international publications and a fully produced runway show at the Fall 2015 collections in March.
This season, Neigum dazzled the fashion crowd with a cerebral and inventive spring collection that relied heavily on the laser-cut and draping techniques that are becoming his hallmarks. The black, white and gray collection drew inspiration from origami artistry that resulted in intricately folded and tucked tops and skirts as well as one show-stopping cape. There were also delicate silk separates with geometric cut-outs, elegant Asian-inspired draping and chic minimal lines. This is one designer to watch.