As is tradition, one of the most anticipated events in Canadian fashion and culture, the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA), exceeded expectations again last night, proudly uniting the country’s leading artists, influencers, and business leaders for an 11th annual gala at historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel that was so next level, none of the hundreds of high-profile high-glam guests in at-trend-ance will be forgetting the electric eve anytime soon…
Among the many memorable moments of the night – hosted with such signature sass and class – by Canadian drag artist, television personality and Toronto native, Brooke Lynn Hytes, were: the presentation of the prestigious 2024 Vanguard Award to iconic supermodel and activist Linda Evangelista by legendary Montréal-born, London-based fashion designer and previous CAFA International Canadian Designer of the Year, Erdem Moralioglu; the presentation of the 2024 Changemaker Award to Ben Barry, Dean of Fashion at the world-renowned Parsons School of Design in New York City, by Braille fashion designer Alexa Jovanovic, and Susan Langdon, CEO of the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI); the equally riveting presentation of the 2024 Changemaker Award to Justice Faith and Nia Faith (in absentia) by award-winning Canadian singer and TV host Keshia Chanté for their impressive work as co-founders of Révolutionnaire and The Rév Shop; the presentation of the 2024 Outstanding Achievement Award to homegrown legendary outdoor lifestyle brand, Roots, by the one and only Suzanne Boyd; and finally, the incredibly inspiring launch of the Indigenous Fashion Award, a new initiative dedicated to honouring the exceptional talent, creative skills, and storytelling of Indigenous designers and artisans, by unstoppable force of nature, CAFA Co-Founder and President Vicky Milner.
And yes, Socials, there was even more CAFATASTIC, from the very first stiletto step onto the red carpet, continuing through to glittering cocktails, the compelling ceremony and almighty after-party like The NARS Beauty Lounge offering guests a unique opportunity to experience life on the explicit side while celebrating the brand’s 30th anniversary; legendary luxury menswear brand Harry Rosen’s immersive luxury lounge featuring high-fashion pieces from their FW24 collection – integrating fashion, art, and luxury – inviting guests to create new memories from photos and custom illustrations; and another immersive space by Amazon, aptly named the Amazon Atelier, created in celebration of their unique intersection of tech and fashion.
Clearly, this year’s CAFA Gala was indeed over the top in the best possible way. For a taste, see the exclusive red carpet captures by king lenser George Pimentel, below and check out @diaryofasocialgal on Instagram. For more CAFA background and a comprehensive list of all winners, go to cafaawards.ca:
