Paul Hardy
Spring/Summer 2003

Toronto Fashion Week opened with the most dramatic element there is - heart-stopping silence. This was no false start. Paul Hardy unveiled his breakthrough collection by pulling the plug on all clichés, including the usual thumping music.

 

Paul Hardy made his initial splash on the Canadian fashion stage with experimental silhouettes in black, rich charcoals and white. The skirts are a prime example of how Hardy fuses Canadian bias cut with European styling; a touching moodiness is the result. Masterful tailoring is to account for one bell hem seeming to materialize out of thin air. Image consultant Linda Gaylard had this to say about the collection. "Certain oriental influences are reminiscent of Issey Miyake, and his work with chiffon and ruching is immaculate."

The black dress coats and satin muumuus perpetuate the demureness of the collection, with satin lightening the mood, silk softening it. For tops, off-the shoulder and boat-neck collars are recurring motifs that work well. Hardy uses raw-cut leather to craft exquisite forms, both in skirts and jackets, as the fitted leather jacket with front thread-tie can attest to. The collection lends itself to crafty layering, and Hardy does this well, with many pieces to choose from.

Paul elucidated the collection mentality for Minimidimaxi. "I focussed on the detail of the line, the various shades of black and the silence that it suggests." As solid as the collection may be, there is a kind of restless, almost inconclusive quality that indicates Hardy isn't done surprising the fashion community

At an intimate reception held for the designer the following day, Hardy told a delighted room that his design career began by getting "ten-metre fabric deals from a travelling salesman with a suitcase of swatches."

Many are tracking Hardy's next career moves closely, including Holt Renfrew editorial consultant Joan Crockett. She's known him since his days on the Calgary Holt's sales floor. "Paul has an integrity, an honesty about what works and what doesn't. He would always push you to try something new and it was always perfect."

Paul has his own ideas as to how his formational days at Holt's equips him for today's fashion challenges. "I was working directly with both consumers and competitors, and this is a direct experience that most designers don't have."

Daniel Cox
Fashion Editor
Marek Wlazlo
Photographer

RELATED ARTICLES: TORONTO FASHION WEEK SPRING/SUMMER 2003

Copyright ©2002 MINIMIDIMAXI LTD. - The Canadian Fashion Stage
All Rights Reserved