The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute announces its three debut Fellows
July 12, 2017 – Toronto, ON – The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute (SRFI) is pleased to announce its three debut Fellows. Recent Ryerson School of Fashion graduates Alexandra Armata, Stephanie Moscall-Varey and current student Quentin Collier will embark on an exciting journey that will see their fashion design dreams take flight.
Announced in (PDF file) October 2016 (external link) , the SRFI fellowship program was created to educate, support, promote and advocate for new Canadian talent in fashion craftsmanship and design. It is supported by a $1-million gift from The Edward and Suzanne Rogers Foundation.
“The process of selecting the inaugural Fellows was one that was highly competitive and intensive,” said Robert Ott, Associate Professor, School of Fashion and Director of The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute. “This made the job of the Selection Committee extremely difficult. I am very thankful to have worked with a group of industry professionals who are excited, passionate and enthusiastic about nurturing fashion’s future.”
Throughout the multi-phased selection process, Robert Ott was joined by: Marie Saint Pierre, renowned Canadian luxury designer; Nicholas Mellamphy, fashion retail expert; Wayne Clark, School of Fashion Distinguished Designer-in-residence; and P.Y. Chau, fashion design educator.
Alexandra Armata
@alexarmata (external link)
Alexandra Armata graduated from the Fashion Design program in 2016. She’s had opportunities to showcase her work to a global audience. Her previous achievements include an exhibition at the Institute of Textiles and Clothing in Hong Kong, as well as a nomination and runway presentation as part of the International Emerging Designer Awards in Dunedin, New Zealand. Most recently, Alexandra was recognized at the 2016 Canadian Art and Fashion Awards, earning a nomination in the Student Designer of the Year category. With her passion for conceptual fashion, she hopes to continue designing collections that challenge her creativity. In fall 2017 she will begin studying postgraduate Womenswear Design at the acclaimed London College of Fashion.
Quentin Collier
@quentintecumsehcollier (external link)
Quentin Tecumseh Collier is from Kamloops, British Columbia. This quaint setting sparked Quentin's early appreciation for the beauty of nature, and later, art and design. Quentin's study of ballet further developed his passion for arts and culture, and his interest in fashion design led him to enroll in sewing classes and conduct an independent study of fashion history. At age eleven, Quentin began designing four fashion collections a year, debuting his work in open-access shows for members of his community. In 2014 he studied with ESMOD Paris. In 2015, Quentin was accepted into the Fashion Design program at Ryerson University.
Stephanie Moscall-Varey
@stephmoscallvarey (external link)
Stephanie Moscall-Varey graduated from the Ryerson Fashion Design program in 2015. Her upbringing in rural Southern Ontario sparked interest in the natural world around her has influenced her to interpret aspects of nature in fabric form. Stephanie has worked alongside designer Jeremy Laing and travelled to New York Fashion Week for his spring 2014 presentation. She also worked closely with Ryerson’s Designer-in-residence, Wayne Clark on her graduating collection, which was well-received and landed her in competitions and secured her a position with fast fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch as a technical designer. Stephanie aspires to join the likes of Alexander McQueen and study her Masters at Central Saint Martins in London, England.
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Media Inquiries:
For The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute: Dylan Kwacz, Program Coordinator,
Tel: (416) 979-5000 x 7172, srfi@torontomu.ca
For Ryerson University: Zandra Alexander, Media Relations Officer,
Tel: 416-979-5000 x 4282, zandra.alexander@torontomu.ca
About The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute:
The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute (SRFI) at Ryerson University is a new program dedicated to supporting emerging Canadian fashion designers nationally and internationally. Serving third- and fourth-year Ryerson fashion design students and recent graduates, the institute educates and provides mentorship, awards and international opportunities to new talent in fashion craftsmanship. For more information, visit www.srfi.ca (external link)
About Ryerson School of Fashion:
Ryerson School of Fashion is the place to study fashion design, communication and culture. For nearly 70 years, the School of Fashion has been developing fashion professionals. Undergraduate programs in fashion design and in fashion communication lead to a Bachelor of Design and graduate degree Master of Arts in Fashion.
About Ryerson University:
Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 42,000 students, including 2,400 master's and PhD students, 3,200 faculty and staff, and nearly 170,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.torontomu.ca