Canada’s biggest department store chain and multi-brand retailer, Hudson’s Bay, is all set to spotlight twelve emerging Canadian designers for its next designer showcase pop-up.
Launched last year, “Discover This Pop-up”, the event marks the fourth edition of the initiative, which will commence from 4th September and go on until November 2018. The previous editions served as a platform to stage emerging Japanese talent, eco-conscious brands and high-end athleisure brands, respectively.
“It’s a great representation of rising talent in Canada,” Alison Coville, President Hudson’s Bay, said. “It’s a good mix of product — men’s, women’s and gender-neutral brands. It’s really about the contemporary customer. There are fashion-forward, structured pieces but there are definitely also items anyone can wear to work and very wearable pieces, from track pants to T-shirts.”
The twelve designers selected to be showcased during the “Discover This Pop-up” event will display their fashion and accessory collections for the Fall 2018 season. Since most of these designers have never sold their merchandise in a department store before, the pop-up would serve as a great opportunity for these designers to garner customer recognition at a prestigious retail location.
Depending on the customer response to the merchandise, some of the designers could be ordered again by Hudson’s Bay for following seasons. “That’s our intent,” Coville stated, adding, “This is a great opportunity to find out how the customer responds. This is about showing our commitment to fashion. We want to make sure our customers see that, and that we give them a reason to come to our stores.”
The list of the 12 brands being presented, range from the more-established Sid Neigum to the newer Wil Studios collection, and from the avant-garde Mikhael Kale, to the relaxed, day-to-day look of Hilary MacMillan. Also up on display are Atelier Guarin, Markoo, Pedram Karimi, S.P. Badu, Wrkdept, Biko, Cuchara and Daniel Gregory Natale.
Spread across an area of 800- to 1,000-square-feet, the collections will feature photos and information about each designer to enable shoppers to learn more about them.
Hudson’s Bay has carried Mikhael Kale and Sid Neigum in the past, but for many of these designers, the initiative will serve as their major purchase order.
There has been a recent surge in homegrown fashion and design talent in Canada with around four to five new brands entering the market each season. Initiatives such as “Discover This Pop-up”, serve as a lucrative platform for budding designers and labels.
The pop-up is located in Hudson’s Bay Queen Street and Yorkdale stores in Toronto, as well as in their Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal locations. The assortment will also be available for purchase at the retailer’s online store thebay.com.
