By Emily R. Zarevich, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
You’re invited! The time has come for the City of Burlington to showcase to Toronto how well it can really dress and impress. Local Burlington-based fashion designer Joseph Tassoni, founder and owner of the self-named clothing boutique located on 390 Pearl Street in downtown Burlington, plans to make the capital of Ontario shimmer and sparkle with his and his team’s electric creative energy on Friday, September 27, 2024. It is predicted to be one of the province’s greatest cultural events of the year.
The venue has been carefully chosen for this purpose. The Joseph Tassoni Runway Show is all set to take place at OneEleven, located at 325 Front Street West, Toronto. Only steps away from the CN Tower, OneEleven houses over 50 cutting-edge technology scale-ups in a sleek, futuristic building designed by the acclaimed WZMH Architects and completed in 1982. It’s a landmark in Toronto’s architectural history.
Tassoni promises a thrilling all-star lineup of celebrity models and agency-represented models to showcase his Fall, Winter + Spring 2025 collection. Attendees will be dazzled by appearances by enough prominent Canadian celebrities to fill a bingo card. Expect to see musician Sarah Blackwood of Walk Off the Earth fame; Miss Fiercalicious from Canada’s Drag Race season 3, The Traitors Canada season 1, and Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World season 2; actor and model Nick Bateman; Global News anchor Tracy Tong, and an array of others. The objective of the show is not only to display Tassoni’s most recent Made-in-Canada designs but also to continue his campaign of prioritizing mental health and inclusivity in one’s community.
Tassoni, who favours colour and vibrancy in his designs, has a clear blueprint to execute with his show and expert commentary on the future of locally crafted fashion in Canada. He’s been kind enough to speak out about both.
What can you tell us about the theme of your show and what sort of artistic vision you hope to convey?
In my brand, everything that we do is proudly made in Canada with locally sourced materials. We’re very proud to support local craftsmanship, production, and our economy, and also to show the world what Canadians can create. For the theme and direction of my collection, I always focus on creating investment pieces — garments that can be built upon in your wardrobe. We’ve always created investment items that you can have in your wardrobe to help reinspire other pieces that you already have.
It’s about designing for someone who wants to feel empowered in any room they enter. Fit, quality, and design are the pillars of every collection. I do love colour so there will be some hints of colour in the collection, but the main theme remains empowerment for the wearer.
What pieces from your new collection are you most excited for attendees to see?
I would definitely highlight the inclusivity of my pieces across all categories, from evening wear to separates. I’m particularly excited to present my new collection, which is ideal for Christmas parties, cocktail parties, or gatherings with friends and family — essentially, any event or party for all seasons. This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to fully showcase my collections, so I’m really looking forward to it. Specifically, our new outerwear features some exciting new pieces made from a combination of sustainable and upcycled materials.
Overall, my brand covers all categories of ready-to-wear apparel, including an entire presentation of swimwear. Last season, I was able to give a glimpse of some of these categories, including genderless clothing as well as inclusive clothing. It was something very different in our presentation that we did last season in regard to fashion presentations.
How would you describe the current shift towards buying locally-made clothes over international brands?
When I launched my brand, it was really important to me, because my name is literally on everything, to stay true to my Canadian roots and contribute to our economy by keeping everything Made in Canada. Since I launched in 2017, I’ve been fortunate to attract clients who value and support local businesses, and I’m incredibly grateful for their continued loyalty.
When the pandemic hit, there was a notable shift towards supporting local, and this trend highlighted the importance of community. Now, what’s happened, due to the economy, inflation, and people’s [lower] budgets, buying habits have begun to revert to pre-pandemic patterns. Despite this shift, I deeply appreciate that the clients who have supported me from the beginning remain steadfast, and I am excited to welcome new clients who share a strong belief in the value of buying Joseph Tassoni Proudly Made in Canada. These supporters understand the significance of investing in Canadian-made products and contribute to the ongoing success of my brand.
The new school year has started up. What advice would you give to college students of fashion and design who are just starting their programs?
I dedicate a significant portion of my year to mentoring students from schools, colleges, and universities. I strive to expose students to various facets of design. I tell them that it’s okay to not know right now exactly what it is that you want to do in fashion, as there are so many layers, from pattern making to sewing to brand management, to buying, to PR, to presentation, to designing, to sketching. The list goes on and on and on. And then sometimes people will say, “I don’t want to be a designer anymore. Maybe I just want to specialize in pattern-making.” Whatever it is that you love, you should try and follow that.
My advice to all students is to immerse yourself in as many areas of fashion as possible. Explore different fields and discover what truly resonates with you.
Spotlight on Burlington’s local businesses
During the main event itself, attendees craving Burlington-based treats can look forward to tasty nibbles and drinks provided by Radius, Familia Fine Foods, Buvette, The Platter Company, No. 8, Backed by Bees, Nickel Brook Brewery, Maverick Distillery, Fresh Wines, and others.
Tassoni says, “All of our partners are local and are big supporters of so many other local events, and I appreciate their support of all I do.”
He continues, “Burlington has so much to offer.” He hopes to shine a spotlight on the many talented and exciting businesses in the Burlington area, from his show partners to food and beverage partners in the show, bringing a taste — literally and figuratively — to Toronto.
Tassoni is working hard to bring his passions together: fashion, awareness of mental health and inclusivity, and Burlington’s local businesses. He deeply believes in the Burlington business community’s resilience and collective strength and is thrilled to be showcasing some of the best of Burlington in the big city.
“I want to show Toronto how amazing Burlington is — and get them coming to visit us in Burlington!”
Tickets for the Joseph Tassoni Runaway Show are available for purchase through Eventbrite on Tassoni’s own website. Before the show, interested patrons will have the opportunity to participate in an online silent auction; Tassoni’s show, as with his first self-produced show last year, will have a charity component. The online silent auction will support the continued purchasing of inclusive gown covers (from local brand FX, Made in Canada, part of George Brown College’s Fashion Exchange), which are donated to local hospitals for mental health in-patients, thus contributing to Tassoni’s ongoing mission to champion mental health and inclusivity.
If you have a fiery passion for fashion, the last week of September is looking to be an exciting one for you. The runway awaits!
