TMU Fashion alumni nominated for CAFA Awards
Caroline Levin
Caroline Levin, a Fashion Communications 2013 alumni, is nominated by the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards for the “The Makeup Artist of the Year Award” (external link) . Caroline has worked with publications such as ELLE Canada, FASHION Magazine, Globe & Mail Style Advisor and Clin d’oeil, as well as leading beauty brands Chanel, Dior, Oribe, MAC Cosmetics, L’Oréal, NYX Cosmetics, Covergirl, Maybelline, Bioderma, John Freida and Pantene. Her advertising clients include SSENSE, Mejuri, KNIX, The Bay, Canada Goose, Jenny Bird, Shoppers Drug Mart, Nike, Christopher Bates and many more.
“I find the most inspiration in the collaborative magic of a fashion set, where photography, styling, and beauty all collide to tell a singular story. I’ve always been drawn to the power of imagery and its ability to convey a mood or define a cultural shift,” she said.
Finding a niche
As part of her degree, Levin says the TMU Fashion program led her to find a niche in the industry: makeup.
“My degree taught me how to see the 'big picture' of a brand or a campaign, and it helped lead me to find my specific niche within the industry. I realized that while the clothes set the stage, the face provides the emotion of the narrative,” she said. “I ultimately chose makeup because it’s the most intimate point of contact in fashion—it’s where high-level concepts meet the human element.
TMU Fashion helped Levin grow her technical skills and taught her how to adapt to each environment.
“The program instilled a relentless work ethic and taught me to be resourceful in every situation. Building on that foundation, technical courses like color theory, illustration, and graphic design became the core of my artistry. I don’t just apply makeup; I use those design principles every day to understand skin undertones, facial structure, and visual balance,” she said. “TMU didn't just teach me fashion—it taught me how to manipulate color and form. Just last week, I went back to my design roots and used Illustrator to create custom temporary tattoos to complete a look.”
The impact of being nominated
Now, as a Fashion, Beauty & Celebrity Makeup Artist, working on sets and projects with top clientele and photographers, she’s reflecting on what this nomination means.
“Being nominated for this CAFA award is incredibly meaningful because it aligns with the standard of excellence I first discovered at TMU,” she said. “I vividly remember being introduced to guest speakers who felt like giants in the industry and first learning about CAFA's as a student. To now be recognized by this same community is a humbling reminder that the dedication I’ve poured into my craft has earned me a place among the very best in Canadian fashion.”
Advice for students
Looking back on her time at TMU, Levin urges students to take advantage of the resources available and to leverage their knowledge.
“My biggest piece of advice is to fully embrace the technical toolkit the program offers. Don't just be an artist; be a technician. Leverage the digital tools, the mechanics of construction, and the industry’s history,” she said. “When you can speak the technical language of every department on a set or in a boardroom, you stop being just a service provider and you become an invaluable collaborator.
To learn more about Caroline and her career, visit http://www.p1m.ca/artists/makeup-hair/139-caroline-levin/ (external link) and follow her on Instagram (external link) .
Serena Li
Serena Li, a Fashion Design 2023 alumni and an independent designer, is nominated by the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards for the “The Emerging Talent Award, Fashion (external link) ”. Li runs her label SERENA LI and is based in Toronto. She has worked with brands like Spencer Badu, 032c, and Reese Cooper® and is supported by the Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute.
As for her journey into the industry– Li says she hadn’t thought about pursuing a career in fashion until a friend encouraged her to apply to the TMU Fashion program.
“To be honest, fashion wasn’t originally a very calculated decision for me. I was always artistic, and at the time my best friend who was really into fashion, suggested that I apply to fashion design programs. I was accepted into TMU’s Fashion Design program just three days before the application cut off date, so I decided to give it a try,” she said. “It wasn’t until I actually started classes at TMU that I truly fell in love with the craft, learning about pattern drafting, garment construction from scratch. That experience really solidified my decision to pursue fashion seriously.”
“I entered the program knowing almost nothing about fashion. I didn’t even know that a seam was called a seam. TMU really taught me everything from the ground up,” she said.
What it means to be nominated
Li honours the other creatives and artists she’s collaborated with as important pieces of her career and CAFA nomination.
“This nomination goes beyond just me. I’ve worked with many talented creatives from the city, amazing photographers, videographers, graphic designers, and more, who have helped execute my creative vision,” she said. “I’ve also been very fortunate to have professors and mentors who guided me along the way. SERENA LI wouldn’t be what it is today without all the incredible people I’ve met and worked with throughout this journey.”
A piece of insight
When it comes to providing advice for current and future students in the TMU Fashion program, Li has a simple piece of insight:
“Don’t overthink it, just do it. And put your work out there. The more you share what you’re making, the more opportunities, connections, and learning will come from it.”
To learn more about Serena Li and her label, visit https://www.srnali.com/ (external link) and follow her on Instagram. (external link)
Kirstine Fernandez
Kirstine Fernandez, a Fashion 2025 alumni, had planned on either going into the medical field or studying psychology after she graduated high school. After encouragement from teachers and friends, she decided to pursue Fashion at TMU.
“I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist, from a very young age I gravitated to anything and everything creative. Whether it was making a mess of my room with paint and pastels, or cutting up my clothes and sewing them back together,” Fernandez said. “I knew that going into medicine was never something I truly wanted to do. It was with the encouragement of my friends and high school teachers, and my deep love for creating art and sharing stories that brought me to TMU to study Fashion.”
Her time at TMU
Fernandez, now developing her own brand, came into the program with some background knowledge of fashion, but said that TMU Fashion provided opportunities to explore pathways in the fashion industry and further develop her technical skills.
“The TMU Fashion program gave me a solid foundation for my career. I went into the program with some knowledge on fashion design and garment making, but I learned so much from all of my classes, whether it be skills in pattern drafting and sewing, or using Adobe and CLO3D software for technical design,” she said.
“The program gave me the opportunity to explore so many different avenues within fashion and further develop my technical skills, but also encouraged me to think critically about my career and where I want to position myself in the industry. The program provided a wide array of courses and workshops that opened doors to areas such as fashion tech, sustainability, and history.”
The significance of the nomination
For Fernandez, being nominated for the “Fashion Design Student Award” (external link) validates and confirms that the work she produces is making an impact.
“Being nominated for this award means so much to me. As a daughter of immigrant parents, choosing this career path was not an easy decision. This industry comes with so much uncertainty and, at times, instability. Deciding to follow this deep set passion of mine was a risk I was willing to take because of my love for fashion and the support I’ve received from everyone around me, including my parents (who were fully expecting me to become a doctor),” she said.
“My identity plays a huge role in my work and it is something I am learning more about every day. Being a second-generation Filipina immigrant, I have stories to tell and a world that I am building with every design I produce. Being recognized at a national level is validation and confirmation that the work I produce means something and deserves to be seen and heard. This nomination and the work I will continue to do is not only for me, my family, and my ancestors, but for others who share similar stories and experiences.”
Focusing on your “why”
Her advice for current and future TMU Fashion students? To focus on your “why”.
“The biggest piece of advice I would give to students and alumni pursuing careers in fashion is to find your why. Find what motivates you, what inspires you, and what you value as a creative, and use it as fuel for your work. Build on it, and create your own philosophy for how you approach each aspect of a project. Be so sure of what is important to you and the message you want to send, be conscious of it with everything you do. I think the more in tune you are with yourself, your standards, and your beliefs, the more it shows through your work.”
To learn more about Kirstine and her career, follow her on Instagram. (external link)