LA SALLE COLLEGE INSPIRES @VFW.
My article, La Salle College Inspires @ VFW, looks at the work of graduating students from La Salle College, Vancouver. On October 23, La Salle College took center stage at Vancouver Fashion Week S/S 2025, showcasing creativity, innovation, and the future of design. I personalize this article as I have an attachment to the staff and students of La Salle College. As a member of the Vancouver fashion community, I have participated in critics, classroom presentations, and in-house fashion shows at La Salle. I have watched the students from La Salle on the VFW runway for years, and La Salle College is a force in the education of designers entering the fashion industry. The following is from the Vancouver Fashion Week website.
LaSalle College Vancouver’s Fashion programs are globally renowned for setting the standard of innovative and supportive fashion design and marketing education. The college conceived its fashion programs with the same attention to detail used in garment construction. The courses were designed to put graduates at the forefront of the industry with real-world skills they’ll use every day.
From the classroom to the runway, students can showcase their vision at special events, competitions, fashion shows and photo shoots while developing their portfolios. As designer Ralph Lauren said, “Fashion is about something that comes from within you.” At LaSalle College Vancouver, we help you bring what is inside you to the world stage. VFW website
LA SALLE COLLEGE INSPIRES
@ VANCOUVER FASHION WEEK
Fashion shows offer students a front-row seat to the bustling, high-energy world of fashion, far removed from the structured environment of a classroom. Students use design principles, concepts, inspirations, and construction skills to bring their creations to life. A fashion show brings about different pressures, dealing with deadlines, working with models and a creative team of stylists. Unlike the sometimes solitary designing and construction experience, fashion shows are collaborative work. Moreover, the fashion industry thrives on connections and networking. Fashion shows allow graduating students to rub shoulders with fashion industry insiders, other designers, media, buyers, influencers, etc. These exchanges can open doors for professional opportunities.
One of the greatest assets of participating in a fashion show for designers is honing their communication abilities. Fashion shows communicate the designers' intentions through styling, choreography, music, and storytelling. Each garment is a segment of the greater whole, the collection. Each look should be impactful and resonate with the audience.
Six graduating students took to the runway at VFW and showed their collections. The preparation for a runway show is immense. First, the students have spent months working on the collections they will show. To show on the runway, students must meet the college's standards. " I worked with the students to prepare them for the runway show. We worked late into last night to put the final touches on the garments," shared La Salle College instructor Nargas Khabazha.
LA SALLE COLLEGE -ANAHITA HEYDARI
Bio: Anahita Heydari is a visionary designer who finds beauty in authenticity. Drawing from her own experiences, she crafts collections that resonate deeply emotionally. Anahita believes that clothing can transcend mere aesthetics; they have the potential to empower individuals, foster connection, and encourage self-expression.
Her designs are imbued with themes of romanticism, resilience, transformation, and the beauty of imperfection. Each piece is a canvas for narratives that inspire wearers to embrace their journeys, feel seen, and recognize their strengths. excerpt provided by La Salle College
A REVIEW
Anahita Heydari sent eight garments down the runway in her The Chrysalis collection. "In the space between caterpillar and butterfly lies the chrysalis, a profound stage of transformation marked by the echoes of trauma," says the designer. The collection's story is relayed through delicate evening wear pieces with solid floral motifs. Silhouettes are close-fitting and hug the models. A black-and-white colour palette is highlighted with red, silver and blue. 3-D flowers are placed throughout the collection at the bust, hip and shoulder, drawing attention but sometimes misplaced. The overall effect is one of sophisticated, elegant shapes with a full-length sheer gown in black with silvery white floral embellishments strategically placed is a stand-out look.
LA SALLE COLLEGE - FLORENCE DUONG
Bio: Florence Duong is a visionary artist who expresses her creative vision through fashion. In 2024, she earned the Telio Impact Award and the First Prize at the Global Student Entrepreneurship Contest. Her work is driven by a dedication to mastering the techniques of classic couturiers and tailors while seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology and sustainability. Florence’s collections are deeply inspired by mythology, literature, and personal experiences, prioritizing timeless narratives over passing trends. With a focus on blending tradition and modernity, she aims to reshape the future of fashion and challenge the conventions of clothes.
A REVIEW
Under her label Phlo Studio, designer Florence Duong showed her narrative collection "Dragon Lady. " The collection is inspired by the Chinese myth of the "Dragon Gate," a legendary waterfall where a carp, after struggling to swim upstream, either transforms into a dragon or perishes from exhaustion. This story is a metaphor for women breaking free from patriarchal limitations to reclaim their power and shape their destinies.
Duong showed formal gowns constructed in various fabrics; she relied heavily on tulle to fulfill her vision. The dresses were traditional silhouettes with a palette of black and red. Red, an auspicious colour from Chinese heritage, is associated with life-generating energy and symbolizes celebrations and prosperity. The use of red is fiery and powerful. The designer used fish leather she manufactured as a symbolic and sustainable element to detail the garments. The closing dress is detailed with a high fish leather collar cut in a checkered pattern; Duong showed ingenuity and skill in her use of unconventional materials.
IN CONCLUSION
Minimum standards must be met for the fashion show to be classified as a success. It is critical to determine whether the students from La Salle College met these standards. As a fashion critic, my overall impression was that they did. However, the final polish may have been lacking, and I encourage all the designers to examine their collections critically. Sometimes, it takes being ruthless with yourself to see the overall picture. I congratulate the students, and now their real work starts.
CIAO FOR NOW J. ANDREW JACKSON
2 Responses
I am truly grateful for the invaluable attention and support of Andrew J. Jackson has shown to our students at Lasalle College Vancouver.
It’s an honour to have you as a friend, an inspiring audience, presence in their journey has made an immense difference. I feel incredibly fortunate to stand by your side and witness the growth of our students, as they gain the confidence and skills to shine on the runway.
I am incredibly grateful for the thoughtful and insightful article written by J. Andrew Jackson on my collection, Zanan-e-Azad. The article beautifully captured the essence and purpose of my work, shedding light on the struggles faced by Afghan women and how fashion can serve as a powerful tool for resistance and expression. The detailed description of my design process and the meaning behind each piece truly resonated with the message I aimed to convey. Thank you for giving my collection a platform to inspire and inform others about these important issues. Your coverage has truly empowered my vision.
Somaya Ahmadi