Local designs highlighted at annual FAM Fest fashion show

Josh Kolm
ARTS EDITOR

arvesting the FAM Festival held its annual fashion show on Oct. 7, highlighting the latest wear from local designers and proving that Windsor may have something to offer the fashion world.

“F is for Fashion” show took place at the Loop, showcasing everything from dresses to t-shirts and scarves from local designers.

“We do it to raise awareness for Windsor fashion, because there is a fashion underground that is happening here,” said Dee-Dee Shkreli, the designer behind Dilly Daisy label. Shkreli has organized the fashion show at FAM Fest for the last two years, and involved with Harvesting the FAM since it began six years ago.

“FAM is great, because it’s all about everyone coming together and collaborating to build each other up,” Shkreli said. The nature of the festival also opens artists up to audiences who may not otherwise see their work. “Everything is free so anybody can come to the event and see what’s happening.”

Shkreli proves that living and working in Windsor isn’t a career roadblock for designers. Designing for over five years, she has had her fashion featured in magazines, television shows and been showcased at Toronto Alternative Fash- ion Week and London Fashion Week.

In addition to the dresses in Shkreli’s Dilly Daisy line, Friday’s show featured andal-lopez, Denial, Never Hopeless, Rejected, Something Clever, That’s Sew Sarah and Nicole Drouillard’s Knit, Nicole, Knit! line.

Drouillard has been knitting and sewing since the age of 10, but “F is for Fashion” was her first fashion show.

“I have scarves and neck warmers and cowls,” Drouillard said of her contribution to the show. “I also have hats, but none of the girls are wearing them because they all have fancy hair.”

Drouillard has been active within Windsor’s art circles and has sold her garments at craft shows and art sales for the last eight years. Now, Drouillard is looking to turn knitting into a full-time gig.

“I’ve been working the math out for it, figuring out how much I’d have to make and if it’s worth it,” Drouillard said. The business aspect can be foreboding, especially in the face of cheaper alternatives.

“People can go to Wal-Mart and pay $5 for a knitted hat. I hand-make a knitted hat and I charge $25. Each piece probably takes me two hours, and the yarn costs at least $5, so I’d be making about $10 an hour. And what I charge doesn’t even cover promotional costs, or fees to get into shows. It’s the math that’s hard, but I definitely want to. I know of a lot of people that are doing it and doing it really well.”

For Drouillard, being part of the show is necessary to satisfy her ambitions.

“I have seen a few people here that I do know through other events, but I’m seeing a lot of people who I’ve never met before. So I hope I can find … stores to sell in or other fashion activities to take part in.”

The ability to network is a major draw for all the designers, no matter how successful. Besides the business aspect to networking, the fashion show provides an opportunity for designers to admire each other’s work.

“Andal-lopez is debuting dresses for the first time, and I’m excited about that because I usually do dresses and she said she was inspired,” Shkreli said. “But I’m excited for everyone. You’re always excited to see new stuff and what everyone has been up to.”