A PREVIEW OF VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK F/W 2026

Watch, Day by Day

April 8–12, 2026 | David Lam Hall, Vancouver

There is a particular thrill to previewing Vancouver Fashion Week—it's less about predicting trends and more about sensing energy. Who is about to break through? Who is refining their voice? And most importantly, who is telling a story we didn't know we needed to hear? I have been covering VFW for 8 years now, and I am always excited to see the wide range of designers presenting. I encourage all of you to attend and look forward to seeing you at the runway.

Running April 8–12, 2026, Vancouver Fashion Week once again brings together local and global talent, with a strong emphasis on emerging designers and cultural diversity.

This time, I've curated each day using the official schedule and designer listings—spotlighting names showing during the week, with a special eye on Vancouver-based creatives. Think of this as your insider's guide before the lights dim and the first look steps onto the runway.

Day 1 — April 8, 2026

Opening Night: Identity, Heritage, and Precision

Richard Wei — Vancouver

The Biography:
A local Vancouver designer known for refined tailoring and modern silhouettes, Richard Wei represents the city's quiet but growing design intelligence. Richard's design language reflects a balance between sophistication and freedom, drawing inspiration from Vancouver's unique landscape and lifestyle, where the city is only steps away from natural beauty. I covered Richard Wei last season. Here's a link to that story.

What He's Showing:
Expect a disciplined collection—sharp cuts, architectural lines, and a focus on form. Wei's work often leans toward wearable sophistication. Wei is also versatile, mixing his sophisticated evening looks with equally chic daytime and outdoor wear.

What We Want to See:
A twist in the narrative. Precision is lovely, but give us a disruption—perhaps asymmetry, or a fabric that behaves unexpectedly under structured tailoring. I would love to see the designer take some risks and deliver looks that define this brand with a unique aesthetic.

Ay Lelum — Indigenous Vancouver Island Brand

The Biography:
A Coast Salish fashion house rooted in cultural storytelling, Ay Lelum is known for weaving Indigenous knowledge into contemporary design. A favourite on the VFW catwalk, Ay Lelum is skilled at creating an inclusive presentation using strong visuals, original music, and brilliant colour choices.

What They're Showing:
Garments inspired by traditional teachings, reinterpreted for modern audiences. The family collective Ay Lelum draws on generations of artists' talents to foster an inclusive approach to Indigenous fashion.

What We Want to See:
Another chapter in a developing story of Indigenous fashion that feels powerful and rooted—fashion as heritage, not just spectacle. I am always excited to see this brand's ability to tell meaningful stories and heartfelt designs. Ay Lelum promises to make you feel like part of their fashion family, regardless of age, size, and ethnicity. This brand offers inclusivity, and I'm a fan and a champion for their message.

Day 2 — April 9, 2026

 Education Meets Expression

Vancouver Community College — Vancouver

The Biography:
There is something deeply democratic—and dare I say, deliciously honest—about Vancouver Community College. As one of the city's most accessible and diverse institutions, VCC has built a reputation for nurturing talent that reflects the real Vancouver: multicultural, (yes, we're global here), and quietly ambitious.

Its fashion program is less about elitism and more about craft. Students are trained not just to dream, but to execute—pattern-making, garment construction, textile understanding. In other words, the bones of fashion, not just the gloss. And frankly, that foundation shows on the runway.

What They're Showing:
Expect a group presentation that feels like flipping through a beautifully chaotic sketchbook. Each designer brings a distinct point of view—some leaning into technical precision, others into conceptual storytelling.

You'll likely see:

• Tailoring experiments alongside fluid, draped silhouettes
• Cultural references pulled from across continents (Vancouver, as always, refuses to be one thing)
• A mix of ready-to-wear sensibility and runway fantasy

This is where you spot the seeds of future brands—before the industry sands them down into something more "marketable."

What We Want to See:
Individuality.

I want the quirks, the slightly too bold colour choices, the silhouette that almost misbehaves. Because that's where the magic lives, that's where you see a designer thinking, questioning, pushing.

And let's be honest—fashion education shows are where you fall in love with possibility again. No past decisions dictating creativity, no commercial pressures whispering "safe." Just pure, unfiltered design energy.

So watch closely. The next name you'll be wearing might walk past you on this runway.

Somaya Ahmadi — Vancouver

The Biography:
There is a quiet power to Somaya Ahmadi—the kind that doesn't shout but lingers. A Vancouver-based designer and graduate of LaSalle College, Ahmadi approaches fashion as both craft and commentary.  Her work is deeply rooted in storytelling, shaped by her Afghan heritage and a belief that clothing can carry meaning far beyond aesthetics.

Her earlier collection, Zanan-e-Azad ("Free Women"), placed her firmly on the VFW radar—an emotionally charged body of work that used traditional Afghan embroidery and textile techniques to honour resilience and identity.

What She's Showing:
For April 9, Ahmadi returns with a new collection titled BODIES IN QUESTION—and already, the name alone feels like a provocation. This season, she shifts from overt symbolism to something more embedded: storytelling through structure. Expect tailored, architectural silhouettes that explore the relationship between the body and the expectations placed upon it.

The casting itself becomes part of the narrative, with both younger and older models walking the runway—suggesting a dialogue across generations, a meditation on how identity evolves (and survives).

What We Want to See:
Tension. Delicious, intellectual tension.

I covered her previous show at VFW and am excited to see her development. I want garments that feel like they're holding something back—structure meeting softness, control meeting release. Ahmadi's strength lies in her ability to make fashion feel like a conversation, and this collection promises exactly that: a visual dialogue about autonomy, identity, and the politics of the body.

And if she leans further into tailoring—as hinted—then give us pieces that don't just frame the body, but challenge how we see it.

Because when Somaya Ahmadi designs, she isn't just dressing women—she's asking who gets to define them.

Day 3 — April 10, 2026

Global Emotion, Personal Mythologies

Nathee Rav — Emerging Voice 

The Biography:
Nathee Rav steps onto the Vancouver Fashion Week runway with a perspective shaped by geography, culture, and movement. Originally from Madagascar, Rav brings a point of view that already feels rich with narrative potential—because Madagascar itself, with its layered histories and vibrant artisanal traditions, is a place where craft and storytelling are inseparable. A graduate from Blanche Macdonald, Nathee Rav follows in the legacy of a fashion school that consistently produces high standards.

Now presenting on an international platform like Vancouver Fashion Week, Rav embodies what this runway does best: amplifying emerging designers whose voices are still forming, but already compelling. Designers selected for VFW are rarely accidental—they arrive with intention, curiosity, and often a deeply personal lens.

What They're Showing:

Sometimes, to get an idea of a designer's aesthetic, I need to do a little research. I scoured Nathee Rav's Instagram and was pleased to see a designer skilled in construction working on the details of corsetry and elaborate silhouettes. Rav's work leans into silhouette exploration, textile play, and personal narrative.

What We Want to See: 

I am excited for this presentation. Rav has enlisted the skills of veteran fashion director Karyn Rudance to bring her collection to life on the runway. What I anticipate is a clear point of view, with an emphasis on storytelling and beautifully constructed garments, with leanings towards the avant-garde. This is the moment to take risks—to send out that one look that makes the audience tilt their head and think, wait… what is that? Rav is well-positioned to create a viral moment, and I can't wait.

Day 4 — April 11, 2026

Heritage, Craft, and the Power of Cultural Memory

Manuel Juárez — Physalia

/Show Day: April 11

The Biography:
There's a quiet intensity to Manuel Juárez—one that doesn't beg for attention, but absolutely holds it. Born in Mexico, Juárez is a multidisciplinary artist who moves fluidly between fashion, media, and film. And you can feel that cinematic instinct in his work—it's not just about garments, it's about presence. Educated at the John Casablancas Institute (JCI) in Vancouver, I first saw Manuel Juárez's work in a school show and was impressed by his professionalism and quality. I encouraged him to seek out VFW as a venue to expand his exposure.

At the core of his practice is a fascination with duality: raw versus refined, fluidity against structure, control softened by emotion. Juárez doesn't design for decoration—he designs for impact, for the psychological shift that happens when clothing alters how the body exists in space. Think less embellishment, more intention. Less noise, more resonance.

The Label: Physalia
Based in Vancouver, his label Physalia feels like an extension of that philosophy—disciplined, considered, and quietly powerful. This is fashion stripped of excess, but never of feeling.

Here, construction is everything. Fabrics are chosen for their integrity, silhouettes for their ability to hold form without rigidity. There's a sensuality, yes—but it's not loud or obvious. It reveals itself through proportion, through movement, through the way a garment behaves rather than what it shows.

What We Want to See:
Restraint, but make it magnetic.

I want Juárez to lean fully into this idea of “quiet confidence"—to give us pieces that don't chase attention, but command it anyway. A coat that moves like sculpture. A silhouette that shifts as the body walks.

Because in a week full of spectacle, there is something incredibly modern—almost radical—about a designer who understands that power doesn't always need to shout.

Designers from Mexico have long contributed to VFW's richly textured identity—bringing with them traditions of tailoring, embroidery, and a deep respect for garment-making as both art and heritage.

Eduardo Ramos — Mexico / Vancouver

The Biography:
Eduardo Ramos is not just a VFW regular—he is one of its standout success stories. A Mexican-born, Vancouver-based designer and recipient of the prestigious Nancy Mak Award, Ramos has built a reputation for deeply conceptual, emotionally resonant work.

His design language is unmistakable: poetic, introspective, and rooted in personal narrative. In interviews and features, Ramos speaks of impermanence, memory, and transformation—ideas that feel less like themes and more like philosophies guiding his practice.

What He’s Showing:
If past collections are any indication, Ramos will deliver something emotionally layered and visually striking. Expect:

• Sculptural silhouettes with architectural precision
• Luxurious, tactile materials used with intention
• A narrative thread that feels personal yet universal

His work often exists in that beautiful tension between fragility and strength—garments that feel as if they're almost holding memory within their seams.

What We Want to See:
Evolution. Ramos is already operating at a high conceptual level—so now, I want to see him push further. Eduardo is a friend, and we often share our views on fashion. What I always want to see from Eduardo Ramos is fashion that challenges our traditional ideas. Give us something unexpected. Perhaps a sharper edge, a new silhouette language, or a continuation of experimentation with materials. But above all, keep the emotion. Because in a fashion landscape that can sometimes feel surface-driven, Eduardo Ramos reminds us that clothing can still mean something.

Day 5 — April 12, 2026

Closing Night: Dreamers, Storytellers, and the Future in Full Bloom

Alex S. Yu — Vancouver

The Biography:
Alex S. Yu is not just part of Vancouver Fashion Week—he is one of its most enduring storytellers. A Taiwanese-born, Vancouver-raised designer, Yu represents that beautifully layered identity that defines this city: global, hybrid, and endlessly imaginative.

A graduate of Blanche Macdonald Centre and later the London College of Fashion, Yu's journey into fashion wasn't linear—it was discovered. He famously began without even basic sewing skills, building his practice through discipline, curiosity, and a relentless desire to experiment.

That foundation matters. Because what Yu does so well—this balance between fantasy and function—is rooted in technical precision. His training gave him the tools, but his imagination gave him the voice.

By the time he launched his label in 2014 at Vancouver Fashion Week, earning “Emerging Designer of the Year,” he was already carving out a niche: contemporary womenswear that dances between reality and dream.

His work has since built a cult following, stocked internationally and worn by names you’d recognize, while he continues to shape the next generation as an instructor back at Blanche Macdonald—a full-circle moment that feels quietly poetic.

And as noted in coverage from The Globe and Mail, Vancouver’s fashion scene thrives on multicultural influence and emerging voices—exactly the ecosystem that allowed Yu to grow into the designer he is today: one who reflects the city’s creative dynamism on a global stage.

What He’s Showing:
Yu’s collections exist in that delicious space between whimsy and wearability. According to the Vancouver Fashion Week designer profile, his work blends avant-garde experimentation with everyday dressing—what he calls fashion for the “everyday dreamer.”

Expect:

• Voluminous silhouettes softened by playful movement
• Bold colour, prints, and unexpected fabric combinations
• A narrative rooted in nostalgia, youth, and emotional storytelling

There is always a sense of joy in his work—but never without intention. Every ruffle, every proportion shift, feels considered.

What We Want to See:
Refinement without restraint.

Yu has already mastered fantasy—but now I want to see him sharpen it. Push the tailoring further, edit the excess just enough to let the strongest ideas breathe.

Because here's the thing: when your foundation is this strong—when you understand both construction and imagination—you have the rare ability to evolve without losing your magic.

And that's where Alex S. Yu becomes not just a designer to watch—but one to remember.

Ainsley McPherson — Vancouver

The Biography:
Ainsley McPherson represents the next wave of Vancouver design—thoughtful, exploratory, and rooted in a strong sense of self. As part of the VFW lineup, McPherson steps into a space that celebrates emerging voices, where experimentation is not only allowed but expected.

While still early in her public career, her inclusion signals a designer with a clear point of view—one shaped by contemporary conversations around identity, sustainability, and the role of fashion in everyday life.

What She’s Showing:
Though details of her Fall/Winter 2026 collection remain under wraps (and we do love a bit of suspense), emerging designers like McPherson often bring an immediacy to the runway—collections that feel personal, tactile, and grounded in process.

Expect:

• A focus on material exploration and construction
• Silhouettes that balance wearability with conceptual thinking
• A narrative that feels intimate rather than performative

What We Want to See:
Confidence in her voice.

This is the moment to define it—to show us not just what she can make, but what she wants to say. I’m looking for that one look that feels hers unmistakably—the kind of piece that makes you pause, lean forward, and think: there it is.

Because closing night isn't just about who shines—it's about who stays with you.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON MY PREVIEW

Darlings, I’m excited for a fabulous week of fashion. The latest season of Vancouver Fashion Week is shaping up to be a vibrant tapestry of culture, craft, and unapologetic creativity. From emerging voices finding their footing to established designers refining their language, this is where fashion feels alive—immediate, diverse, and deeply human.

What I love most about this week is its spirit of inclusivity. You’ll see designers from across the globe sharing space with local talent, each bringing their own narrative to the runway. It’s a reminder that fashion isn’t just about what we wear—it’s about who we are, where we come from, and how we choose to express it.

So here’s my invitation to you: show up. Be present. Dress like you mean it. And most importantly—support the designers who move you. If a look makes your heart skip, find a way to invest in it, champion it, and talk about it. Because behind every garment is a story, a risk, a dream stitched into reality.

Vancouver, this is our moment to celebrate fashion not just as spectacle, but as community.

I’ll see you on the runway—and in the front row of possibility.

CIAO FOR NOW J. ANDREW