Canadian fashion designer Dillane Dixon plans to impress runway audiences with her “edgy” sustainable collection when she returns to New York Fashion Week for the first time since the pandemic began. increase.

Dixon, from Kamloops, BC, will bring eight local models to New York for the event, one of the world’s four biggest fashion weeks, from September 9-14.

Over the past decade, 30-year-old Dixon has designed clothes for online clients around the world and presented her work at fashion shows in Amsterdam, New York and Paris.

Her career highlights include Emmy-nominated Hollywood TV host Rasha Goel wearing one of her dresses on the Oscars red carpet in March.

“There were pictures online…she interviewed Kevin Costner and his [wife] I was right behind her,” Dixon told CBC Daybreak Kamloops“I’m a big fan [his TV drama series] yellowstone.”

“something spicier”

Originally from Alberta, Dixon began studying marketing at university in Vancouver, but switched to fashion design simply because he had loved it since high school.

“I didn’t really know how to sew when I was a kid,” she said. “But I was always interested in fashion. Especially towards the end of my high school years, I was really into styling and everything.”

Dixon says she likes creating “edgy womenswear.”

“I definitely prefer something spicier,” she said. “I use a lot of black and red and faux leather. [and] Faux fur is definitely cutting edge. “

She says she is inclusive in her designs, making all of her pieces up to size 6XL and using sustainable fabrics whenever possible.

Kamloops model Emily Phillips, who appears at New York Fashion Week, said she contacted Dixon two years ago and wanted to collaborate with her because she liked her “very nice” sustainable designs.

“We live in a world where fashion is constantly being ditched by ‘fast fashion’ companies,” Phillips said.

“[Dixon] She uses sustainable products wherever possible and sources them from people who stand for good labor laws. “

In her first appearance at New York Fashion Week, Phillips has been practicing a lot for the Big Apple catwalk.

Dixon says she’s very excited about what she describes as a fun “monster event.”

“I really enjoy the atmosphere of all the people,” she said.

“Behind the scenes is very exciting. I’ve been busy… I’ve been working on this collection for about six months and it all comes down to this 15 minute runway show.”