Toronto is a multi-cultural city that has become a hub for Canadian artists and creators to live and develop their craft. No matter whether they call the hip Queen West district home, or if they are living in one of the other dynamic neighborhoods within Toronto, this city has helped their creativity flourish to create a professional career within the arts. Here is a selection of my top eight creative ladies that you should know from Toronto.
FASHION
Jennifer Torosian
Working together with her partner Raed Ali, Jennifer Torosian has developed her own signature style of sleek and tailored pieces fabricated in Canada. Jennifer continues to play with fabrics, prints and bold colors in her designs to create one-of-a-kind collections that are perfect for the modern professional woman. After debuting on the runway of Toronto Fashion Week last season, the future seems limitless for this talented young designer.
Jenny Bird
Jenny Bird is one of the most popular names in Canadian jewelry design creating collections season after season that are influenced by street style all over the world. Turning her collection into a refection of pop culture, her pieces are responsibly made with brass that is later electroplated in 14k gold, sterling silver, or rose gold. Most recently, she has partnered with the Far and Wide Collective to help connect with artisans in emerging economies to bring their fair trade products to the Canadian and international market.
Ellie Mae
This young designer has been garnering a lot of attention after the Canadian first-lady wore her designs during the visit to Washington earlier this year. Creating a line of contemporary women’s jackets, Ellie Mae’s trademark style of vintage-inspired outerwear is bringing rocker aesthetics to street style in a feminine way. She debuted her latest collection for her first runway during Toronto Fashion Week in March and has been on a roll ever since.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Vanessa Heins
Behind the lens of some of the best music and fashion photography, Vanessa already has an very impressive photography career shooting some of the most famous Canadian and international celebrities. Even though she calls Toronto home, Vanessa’s dynamic career has taken her all over the world for her art and her portfolio extends from the pages of fashion magazines to Carly Rae Jepsen’s CURIOSITY album art and much, much more.
Lucia Graca Remedios
Lucia celebrates photographers who have immortalized musicians through their work as the owner and Creative Director of the Analogue Gallery in Toronto. She has used her gallery to not only share her own photography but of others as well to who have captured these iconic moments on stage. She is also the founder of the Sound Image Competition that celebrates and showcases the exceptional works to industry insiders and the public.
ART
Lauren Pirie
Although Lauren has lived places ranging from a raft in the Northwest Territories to a beach in Ecuador and more; this creative individual currently calls Toronto home. She is a freelance illustrator and a multidisciplinary artist whose work has been most recently seen in the children’s book Ella And The Balloons In The Sky by Danny Appleby and her illustrations have graced the pages of Canadian fashion magazines.
Kathryn McNaughton
This Toronto-based painter and multi-disciplinary artists is known for her unique approach to contemporary art that exposes her emotions and intuitions in her work. Since her graduation from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, Kathryn’s colorful creations have been shown all over the world in a number of group and solo exhibitions.
MUSIC
Hannah Georgas
Originally hailing from a suburb just outside of Toronto, Hannah Georgas’ music is a shining example of upbeat Canadian alt-rock. This talented singer/songwriter has released three successful albums, performed countless shows and is embarking on a North American tour with Boy & Bear and opening for City and Colour in Toronto in June. Proving that girls can rock just as hard as the boys she tours with, Hannah Georgas has created a signature sound that is rich with emotion driven synth-pop.
Who are some of your favorite creatives in Toronto? Let us know in the comments!
Toronto Artwork via Lauren Pirie
