Kruger Products layers beauty, hope and support for women dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis with this year’s 2024 Cashmere Collection runway show…
By Adriana Ermter
I was alone, sitting in a drab, windowless broom-closet-like room when my oncology surgeon told me I had breast cancer. Me. Freshly divorced. With no familial link to the disease. Double digit years away from being 62—the average age most women are diagnosed, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Never did I ever think these words would be spoken to me. When they were, the skin on my face and arms tightened. White noise filled my ears and my mind kicked into triple gear. I didn’t cry. But I changed. Instantly. Into someone I didn’t know or even recognize later, when I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a storefront’s glass window as I left the hospital and walked back to work. When I think about that moment, when I glanced at my own reflection, I remember wondering who that girl was. She looked familiar…
I have a lot of respect for that girl. She, like the 30,500 Canadian women the Canadian Cancer Society says have/will be been diagnosed with breast cancer this year, is a fighter. She’s also going through an emotional and physical metamorphosis that lingers, even if, when, the cancer leaves her body. This is just one of the little spoken realities many women with breast cancer experience. One that is deeply recognized by Kruger Products’ Cashmere Collection—an annual runway show in tribute to that girl and to all women dealing with a diagnosis.
“We’re all about making everyday life more comfortable, but specifically, the Cashmere brand is all about showing strength and softness,” affirms Susan Irving, the chief marketing officer of Kruger Products. “It’s about humanity, right? Because we’re there for you, the good times and the bad. And there’s just something so special in terms of the connection of the brand standing for strength and softness that ties to a woman, but also ties to giving back to the breast cancer cause. And the fact that the Cashmere Collection has now been around for 21 years is a testament and a proven fact that there is such a strong linkage to our brand and our support of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.”
Support that manifests in fashion. This year’s show, with its 16 stunning ensembles crafted from bathroom tissue by Canadian designers, reminds us that life is and can be beautiful, hope-filled and joyful. The October 30th event, held at the Evergreen Brickworks raised $5 million in support of the Canadian Cancer Society and to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation’s breast cancer awareness, prevention and treatment programs. Event attendees and viewers watching etalk’s live stream of the fashion show voted for their favourite runway outfit. For every vote, Kruger Products donated $1 for the cause. But perhaps most importantly, for every fashionable design, women like me, who are dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis were/are reminded to see and reclaim ourselves through inner and external beauty, strength and fragility.
Keep reading to see what each designer had to say about their creation, inspiration and even, their relationship with breast cancer.
Adam X, Toronto, ON
A floor-length gown with butterfly wing drapes and floral motifs. The pleated neckline and corset bodice symbolize dignity and a connection to the sky, while the off-white, earthy-toned skirt represents deep roots. The gown embodies the harmony of growth and beauty through its connection to the sky, earth, and human spirit. “I was inspired by how a girl going through this difficult time can find strength through different elements,” explains X. “So, I wanted to give her hope. To gain strength and gather resiliency and have power and harmony. When these women look at my gown, I want them to feel beautiful and powerful. They don’t ever feel isolated. Even though they are going through a hard time alone, it doesn’t mean they are alone, there are people around to support them. I wanted to create the dress to send to them a message: you are never alone. This means a lot to me. I have quite a few friends going through this stage. I’m not a doctor. I can’t help this way, but what I can do is create a beautiful moment, a beautiful memory they can cherish forever.”
Alex S. Yu, Vancouver, BC
Known for his whimsical, nostalgia-infused designs that explore modern femininity with dynamic prints, unconventional shapes and lively colour palettes, Yu drew inspiration from the concept of “bloom” to evoke freshness and beauty. His dress features a baby doll silhouette with leg-o-mutton sleeves and multiple tiers of ruffles to literally symbolize a blooming flower.
Angela DeMontigny, Ancaster, ON
A pioneer of the Indigenous luxury movement and a strong advocate and supporter of Aboriginal designers, artisans, women and youth entrepreneurs, her design is inspired by lilies, symbolizing new beginnings and transformation. “The dress features flowers hand-painted in pink,” affirms DeMontigny. “I wanted to find a flower that presented transformation and rejuvenation. And the Lily was, and it also was pink, tied into, breast cancer. It is associated with transformation and the spirit. It’s got some a little bit of ribbon work on it. It’s kind of a nod to our ribbon skirts. Our traditional items that we wear for ceremonies and for our identities as Indigenous women, especially in ceremonies. My grandmother had breast cancer, and she had a radical mastectomy and declined to have chemotherapy. She was early 70s when she got it, and she in her mid 80s when she passed. [The dress] is in honour of her.”
Chavah Lindsay, Saint John, NB
The winner of this year’s show, Lindsay’s dress is a personal tribute to her mother and her journey through cancer. It symbolizes growth, resilience and transformation. The corset is adorned with light pink roses and pearls, representing the delicate beginnings of growth. The soft pink colour signifies compassion and strength. Each budding rose reflects quiet resilience in the face of hardship. The double lace-up back symbolizes the intricate support and love that held everything together. The full skirt, shaped by hidden roses, represents unseen strength. Although her mother didn’t survive, this design honours her enduring courage and the beauty that emerged from her struggle. “My inspiration was my mom’s journey through cancer and how my family was affected by it,” says Lindsay. “I just poured my heart into it. So, to win was incredible.”
Helmer Joseph, Montreal, QC
Born in Haiti, the luxury designer created a structured dress featuring paper mâché masks to represent women and their unique stories.
Hilary MacMillan, Toronto, ON
Evoking a sense of growth, renewal and optimism, the organic shape is layered with 3D floral appliqués on top of a structured corset. Paired with a voluminous full skirt, the design mirrors the blossoming of a flower, creating a look that matches the energy of spring, and the spirit of the theme: “Bloom.”
Marie Saint Pierre, (Maison Marie St. Pierre), Montreal, QC
Wellbeing and empowerment are critical values of the brand. The cycles of life inspired Saint Pierre’s creation. As a self-proclaimed beauty maker, she finds that the essence of life is movement and evolution. Her dress is an abstract vision of a flower growing on the body of a woman as she becomes one with nature.
Mikael Derderian, (MIKAEL D), Montreal, QC
The gown symbolizes rebirth and renewal by blending traditional couture with modern elegance, celebrating transformation with figure-hugging lines, intricate beading, delicate lace and a cascading petal overskirt.
Nadya Toto, Montreal, QC
Known for her sophisticated yet minimalist, ultra-feminine, and decidedly romantic signature style, the inspiration centers on handmade roses that bloom gradually from top to bottom with their petals forming the foundation of the entire garment.
Nikki Wirthensohn Yassemi, (NARCES), Toronto, ON
Luxury fashion that blends modern vintage glamour with sophisticated sensuality, the designer found her muse in the hibiscus flower, a symbol of beauty, femininity and peace.
Ou Ma, (OUMA), Vancouver, BC
The Inspiration for the dress comes from the beauty of traditional Chinese garden windows, blending cultural heritage with modern design. As a Chinese-Canadian designer, the design reflects the designer’s background with a high-low dress that mimics the shape of these garden windows. The dress also features a train adorned with flowing 3D flowers. “When I was designing [my dress] for the collection, I went back to China to visit some of the Asian-Chinese gardens,” adds Ma. “And I was really inspired by those floral-patterned windows with all the cut-outs. And to me, one thing amazing about those windows is you look through it and you see something completely different. It’s almost like a symbolic icon for breast cancer. You have to look at life challenges in a different perspective. One of my family members survived breast cancer, and then one of my closest family friends also survived from breast cancer, so they are my motivation for this collection. I really wanted to do something amazing that contributes to them and to everyone else who’s survived from breast cancer.”
Himikalas Pamela Baker, Toronto, ON
An Indigenous artist and fashion designer, the design features a face that represents the strength of women. Feathers on the dress pay homage to the eagle who flies closest to the creator and brings them prayers of healing.
Paul Hardy, (Paul Hardy Design), Calgary, AB
With design inspiration from geometric quilt techniques, Hardy crafted a floral pattern created by using layered pink and white papers or tulle mesh for dimension. The silhouette mimics a picnic blanket, featuring an overall bib, similar to a gardening apron.
Sam Wong, (WONG KWOK SHING), Toronto, ON
A quilted jacket, with squares that features various florals, fruit and inspiring words and symbols synonymous to growth and new beginnings. “I feel honoured to participate and I always want to do something like, bring awareness,” says Wong. “My brand is about bringing environmental awareness. So, I feel like this is a great offering opportunity for me. I lost my aunt 10 years ago and she had a very late diagnosis for breast cancer and she passed away. It had a great impact on me because I never saw her again. So, I think to bring the awareness to people is very important.”
Shelli Oh, Toronto, ON
An Indonesian–Canadian designer of high-end luxury womenswear and menswear collections, her high-low dress inspires joy and a touch of whimsy by enticing the senses and evoking enchantment. With hand sewn details, rich textures and jeweled trims that elevate the pieces beyond just clothing, she created an ethereal, wearable art experience. Inspired by this year’s theme, Oh’s design features oversized petals resembling flowers in bloom. “I was elated to be asked to participate,” says Oh. “This is my third year doing it. The whole floral feel of my dress encapsulates a lot of things. Flowers, by their name, have this delicate beauty, but underlying that delicate beauty, there is a resilience. It withstands the elements. To me, that was very poignant when it came to breast cancer, because there’s obviously so many layers of feelings of strength behind the vulnerability. I just actually lost someone to the fight, so I had to experience firsthand, and I’ve experienced it before with other people but this was especially poignant. When I saw her struggle, she went through it with a vibrancy and zest for life. I saw that balance of strength, but also vulnerability. That’s the very essence of bloom.”
Wiwa Blue (WIDI’Z), Montreal, QC
Renowned for her blend of Western and Eastern elements, the design is inspired by breast cancer survivors, symbolizing renewal and resilience.
