At the 2026 Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards, a reporter on the red carpet asked me, “What makes Canadian fashion Canadian?” My short answer: its diversity. After having time to reflect, my long answer is that said diversity is best exemplified through our class of emerging designers. Among them are women and queer people, Indigenous folks, immigrants—the list goes on. Their visions range from architectural tailoring to drag-queen-approved sculpture. And they are having an impact around the world, from making the LVMH Prize semifinals to dressing the stars of Heated Rivalry.
This year, the nominees for CAFA’s Emerging Fashion Designer Award were Eduardo Ramos, Golshaah, Jozeph Diarbakerli, Serena Li, SteMargScot, and Tristan Rehel. The Emerging Accessories Designer Award category featured Atacz, By Mademoiselle Jules, Studio Rybko, Sacrd Thndr, Vimeria, and WILYMI. And the Fashion Design Student Award acknowledged Delbar Mohamadi, Hoang Gia Linh Doan, Kirstine Fernandez, Mackenzie Cyr, and Samuel Castaing. Below, you’ll discover more about my favorite emerging Canadian designers.
1. Golshaah
Golshaah is Golnar Ahmadian’s Toronto-based brand rooted in Iranian culture, offering seasonless, timeless pieces that explore bold femininity through architectural silhouettes and thoughtful tailoring. Drawing inspiration from structure, proportion, and layering, each design balances strength and softness, with silhouettes like layered pants and backwards shirts. My most-loved GolShaah piece is a pair of bottoms that, when worn forward are shorts and when worn backwards are pants. I also love the button-down I own with the neck hole and collar on the chest of the shirt. Golshaah won this year’s CAFA for Emerging Fashion Designer and made it to the semifinals for the LVMH Prize.
2. Mario Fugnitto
Mario Fugnitto is a Canadian designer operating at the intersection of fashion, sculpture, and dancewear. Since its founding in Toronto in 2022, the brand has built a reputation for wet-formed leather garments that contour the body with striking precision. Informed by dance and queer identity, the work carries a sense of tension. At Fugnitto, the body becomes both subject and statement—like when I wore a sculpted resin piece to the 2024 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit red carpet. Mario was nominated for the 2024 CAFA Award for Emerging Designer and has dressed Canadian superstars from Grace Mahary to Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova.
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