The designer added in some of Fall’s key colors with black, navy, and a deep, dark red. The easy-to-wear collection was topped off with easy-to-wear hair: imperfectly straight on purpose.

View the whole collection – > MATIS by Lucian Matis

After getting exclusive insider access to the designers newest collection, we saw him follow through on his promise to include bright color mixed in with traditional Fall black.

See the full collection – > Christopher Bates

The designer incorporated all of the major trends for Fall, including both long and short silhouettes, and leather and fur accents. And, to top it off, hints of metallic sparkled throughout.

See the full collection – > DUY

Fall colors black, white, and gray also made a strong appearance in the Collection, and were highlighted with bright pops of true blue.

See the full collection – > David Dixon

So how are you feeling today, with the show coming up?

“I feel good, everything is pretty much organized. I did order some new winter gloves that I’m desperate to showcase but I’m not sure that they’re going to be here. Everything else is done – the gloves are an important piece of the puzzle so it’s going to be a last minute thing where maybe they’ll be here the day of the show.”

What are you most looking forward to during World MasterCard Fashion Week?

“Well, I’m really excited about the show but there is a little bit of pressure and anxiety also so I kind of want to get my show over with and then celebrate, enjoy it.”

What can we look forward to seeing on the runway next week?

“For me, one of the most important things for next fall is to own a coat that isn’t black. I’ve done one in a deep teal, which is a unique colour, I have one in blue and I also have one in camel with a black trim. I do have a black coat in there as well, but I’m planning to accessorize it, hopefully with those winter gloves and some other colourful accessories. So if you can’t get a winter coat that isn’t black, the idea is to incorporate colour with accessories.”

What was the inspiration behind your Fall 2013 collection?

“It’s nothing too obscure with this one, I was just picturing, okay next fall, something very urban. That’s my style. Specifically, I call the collection Bright Lights, Big City.”

Do you feel like you look for inspiration or does it find you?

“It just comes to me, through life. I probably do a couple of hours of research every day to flush out that inspiration.”

How soon after the fall 2013 collection is presented on the runway will you start preparing for the next season, and the next show?

“I’ve already started. I have a collection outline. Even for next fall, I have a running inspiration file with notes and sketches that I’m always working on.”

What happens in between the end of one season and the start of the next?

“There’s design, there’s marketing, there’s admin, there’s everything to do with running a business in between. There are lots of other side projects that I’m working on as well, like accessories and different things. Lots on the go.”

What’s your favourite part of the design process, from creation to consumption?

“I guess seeing the prototypes and trying on the prototypes is always exciting. I also enjoy sourcing the fabrics – I get anxious but I like it as well. It’s that feeling when you go shopping and you’re having fun but it’s tiring. I see the fabrics and I’m trying to imagine them from the bolt of fabric to how it’s actually going to be. Is it the right weight? What’s it going to look like in different lighting? It’s hard to tell – I find it exhilarating but it can be exhausting. “

Why the focus on menswear as opposed to womenswear?

“When I went to design school, I thought I was going to do women’s. You know, that to me is fashion. The first two collections we did were women’s and then the third collection they said everyone in the class had to do men’s. That’s where my teachers really encouraged me when I did a strong collection. They said I should think about doing menswear and I was able to distinguish myself doing that. I saw that men’s in itself was becoming hotter, and only one in ten designers at the time were doing menswear and it was a chance to establish a niche.

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You’ve mentioned that your two style icons are David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. Why is that? How do they affect your style and your designs?

“I love the way that they dress, I love their personas, the way they carry themselves and perform on stage. Freddie Mercury especially, he is the most electric performer I’ve ever seen. The way he moves exudes skill, talent, and confidence. They’re bold, they’re cool, they’re also a little bit alternative in their style and the way they live.”

What are some of your favourite spots in Toronto?

“I like St Lawrence Market, I love cooking so I get really inspired there. I like La Palette on Queen West – I had the horse there the other day, it was absolutely outstanding. I know it’s a somewhat controversial choice but it was phenomenal.”

Once the show wraps, what’s the first thing you’re going to do?

“Well I’ll be doing lots of interviews, which is fun. Then once I get all the clothes back here, I can have some drinks and eat and laugh with my friends, totally decompress. I’m looking forward to that.”

Find out more about the designer – > Christopher Bates

The designer also included handcrafted beaded jewelry to accent the collection, and also gave the collection a cool-girl-meets-global-traveler feel.

See the full collection – > Laura Siegel 

How are you feeling today with just a few days until your show? Any nerves or anxiety?

“Nah, I feel good. Too old to get anxious.”

What are you most looking forward to at World MasterCard Fashion Week?

“With our show, I want to see how it comes together with the music and the way that we’re doing our runway presentation.  It’s not really typical – we have a rehearsal day, so I’m hoping that how it looks in my head is how it’s going to look, if not better.”

How soon after the Fall 2013 Collection is presented on the runway will you start preparing for the next season and the next show?

“Already started.”

What happens between the end of one season and the start of the next?

“Well it generally used to be that I’d sort of sit on my duff and relax for a bit but this year we did something different, with a whole year calendar that has everything all mapped out. To see it all in front of you like that you really see how much time you can lose. My wife keeps trying to tell me you don’t have to work harder, just work smarter. We’ll see if you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

What is your favourite aspect of the design process?

“Well I don’t know if there is a favourite part of it. It’s all part of the process, you know? From the actual design, which tends to be the more fun part of it to the more businessy aspects, they’re all parts of a whole.”

How do you manage to make the whole Klaxon Howl collection by hand? Do you have a team helping you?

“There are no robots. Well, there are machines but there are still hands involved. I do have help, I have everything handmade by the people who are really good at that stuff. You know, we’ll have a sample made but I don’t like to send a sample out in a different colour or material than what it will end up being, so the same guys that are doing the samples will end up doing the line which is good for both of us because we know what is to come.”

How many pieces are in the Fall 2013 collection?

“Well, my showroom just told me too many.”

What can we look forward to seeing on the runway next week?

“In terms of set up, it’ll be circular. Like hands spinning around a clock.  Clothing-wise, we’ve got some leather, some down fills, denim, knit. There will be some camo, I’ve got a sort of military reputation so you’ll see that in there. There’s going to be live music as well, sort of Neil Young-esque. Just a solo guitar player and an amp, improvising in the style of what he did for the sound track for the movie Dead Man. It’s in the studio space so it’s a little bit more intimate.”

We’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Kickstarter these days, what made you go that route?

“Well actually it was my brother’s idea. He’s my agent and manages the show room in New York. You know, partnerships are difficult. We wanted to make this happen without getting into bed with somebody that you think you want to get involved with but then once it’s happening things can go a different way than you’d envisioned. Ultimately though, if that is the route we end up taking then that will be fine too, the focus is on the business.”

What are some of your favourite spots in Toronto?

“Home, to relax. To eat, I like to go to Union. The owner there, Teo, is a friend – he also opened this new place Côte de Boeuf which is great. It’s a butcher shop with dining space in the back. We had our staff party there and had a great dinner that I’m still salivating over.”

Would you say Toronto affects or inspires your designs?

“It definitely affects them. I make a lot of things that you can wear here. But then that also comes back, because not everywhere has winters that go below 20, so I’m hearing that maybe I should have some things that aren’t quite so heavy. You’ll see that this season, with some lighter fabrics and we’ve got some short sleeves, which is something that I don’t generally do.”

Once the show wraps, what’s the first thing you’re going to do?

“Drink. Well actually, first I’m sure I’ll be whisked away to do like an hour and a half of press but afterwards I’d hope that somebody would be waiting with a beer.”

See more – > Klaxon Howl

One of the best parts? The polka dot accents on jackets, sweaters, and scarves scattered throughout the Fall 2013 Collection.

See the full collection – > BUSTLE 

The designers balanced out the edgy look with a feminine touch that included soft knits, warm velvets, and delicate prints.

See the full collection – > Chloé Comme Parris

See the full collection – > MIZ BY IZZY CAMILLERI