September 19th, 2017. Calgary: Attendees at Vancouver Fashion Week were treated to a snapshot of summer, when Marisa P. Clark debuted her spring summer collection on September 19th.

Written by Rachael Hopwood.

The Calgary born fashion designer showcased a 12-piece collection brimming with fun and whimsical femininity, beautifully demonstrating her talent to create seasonal fashions that are both eye-catching and practical. The show proved the perfect follow-up to Marisa’s runway debut at the Western Canada Fashion Week earlier this year.

In an eclectic celebration of spring summer, eye-catching florals stand out against calming pastel and delicate shades, while bold prints, black and even denim makes an appearance. Individuality remains key throughout this collection, with varying sleeve and skirt length, neck lines, and the addition of ribbon tie detail and light outerwear, promising to flatter every body type and taste. 

At the show, long fishtail braids by the Redken hair team were complemented by dewy skin, coral red lips, and gold freckles from the NYX makeup team, created an innocent, carefree look. 

A beautifully choreographed catwalk show complemented the collection perfectly, with models even throwing daisies into the audience during a memorable finale that exuded love, happiness and warmth.

“I am extremely excited to have been able to share my spring summer collection with guests at this fall’s Vancouver Fashion Week” says Marisa.

“I wanted to create a happy, fun-filled collection that immediately conjures up thoughts and feelings of spring summer. Each piece has been designed to take you through those long sunny days in style, whether at music festivals, the beach, or on vacation”.

On a personal note, the day also marked the 8th anniversary of Marisa’s mother’s death, and despite initially feeling that grief may hold her back, found strength through the show.

“I found that I felt gratitude for my mom - almost like the collection was celebrating her spirit that is present in all my designs. The show was a beautiful way to celebrate and remember her too” she adds.

Renowned for celebrating emerging talent, and celebrating multiculturalism, Vancouver Fashion Week has proved the perfect place to highlight undiscovered designers for the past 28 seasons, and Marisa has received widespread praise from the industry.

Marisa’s talent is matched with her commitment to creating a fair trade fashion line that meets ethical standards, empowering small businesses in developing countries. This was reflected in her trip to Vietnam earlier this year, where she forged partnerships with local producers. Her ready-to-wear collection has been created to further push the drive for sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly clothing.

Those who missed the show can catch Marisa’s spring summer 2018 collection at LA Fashion Week on October 5th.