This New Instagram Takeover Series is Spotlighting Indie Canadian Designers

The initiative is a great way to meet local Canadian designers during this time.

With the current global health crisis altering life’s normal routines, all facets of our world are shifting, and concern for how independent businesses are faring is at an all-time high. Starting today, Inland—Canada’s leading pop-up contemporary fashion market—is opening up a lens into the lives of these business owners. Inland will hand the camera over to different Canadian fashion designers every day, with each to take over Inland’s Instagram Stories and share what they’re up to in these unprecedented times.

“Connecting with each other is in our DNA. From the front lines to the quiet corners of our home offices, we are discovering new ways to relate and come together,” the brand said in a release. “Most importantly we are tuning in, for real, to our communities and focusing on what matters — each other.”

Today’s takeover will be by Iran-born and Vancouver-based designer Rojan Hooshyar from contemporary brand La Femme Roje. La Femme Roje specializes in handcrafting vegan accessories, bags and shoes. Hooshyar will take you on a day’s journey with stories of her life and how she is operating her business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The daily takeovers will continue this week with Toronto’s Kate Austin and her colourful, sustainable and organic casualwear; Hamilton’s Mettamade, which makes size-inclusive bamboo essentials; Toronto-based Okayok with fashion-forward loungewear; and Montreal’s bold and beloved Eliza Faulkner,  known for her ethical and feminine clothing. On the weekend, Partoem from Montreal, who makes origami-inspired leather goods, and Toronto-based genderless clothing brand In Objects We Trust will take over. More designers will be announced each week, too.

Since its inception in 2014, Inland has brought upward of 450 Canadian labels to the stage: the collections showcased by Inland are either ethically made or Canadian-made, or both. Its ethos to connect shoppers and retail buyers with independent Canadian businesses, designers and makers is an almost obsolete practice in today’s world of fast-fashion.

Inland routinely runs an event in both the spring and fall. Given the social and business restrictions (rightfully) implemented due to COVID-19, events around the globe have either been rescheduled to later dates or have faced cancellation altogether. The latter is the route taken by Inland, much like One Of A Kind.

But after announcing the spring show’s cancellation last month, Inland immediately took to exploring the ways in which it can connect Canadians to local and independent designers. Their initial Instagram Stories takeover route, dating back to three weeks ago, featured designers who were originally preparing to showcase their collections at this spring’s show. Now with this new series of takeovers kicking off, the talent living across the nation will continue to be showcased.