International fashion-icon Jeanne Beker has been in the front row of the WMCFW Spring/Summer 2013 runway shows in Toronto, Canada, this week.  A seasoned, highly respected authority on the fashion world, Jeanne is one of the Mercedez-Benz Start Up contest judges. She graciously took time to share her opinion of the Joe Fresh 2013 Spring/Summer collection and the winner of the Mercedez-Benz Start Up contest.

Jeanne Beker Talks Joe Fresh Runway

Jeanne is a great admirer of Joe Mimran, the genius behind the Joe Fresh Fashion Empire. Joe Mimran and his fashion designer wife Kimberley Newport-Mimran, whose Pink Tartan label has a flagship store in Yorkville, Toronto have taken the business of fashion in Canada to a new level. Kimberly founded Pink Tartan in 2002 with backing from partner Joe. The label is now available in Saks Fifth Avenue and in over 170 high-end fashion stores across the North America. Pink Tartan fashion is sported by many A-listers and we adore it too.

Joe Fresh is about to have a huge impact south of the border with the fashion label appearing in 600 JC Penny stores across the US.

“Now I don’t think any other Canadian has done that”. Jeanne Beker

Jeanne describes Joe Fresh’s Spring/Summer 2013 fashion line as having an essential “cross generational appeal, that 60’s mod thing” says Jeanne. She says it is a place where she and her daughter can meet. Pat Cleveland was brilliant opening the show – bringing that quality of theatricality that every show must have. The show was filled with all the right trends – all the whites, silver foil, golds, the combination of the metallics, perforated pleather; the show had a sense of optimism. “These are not things we haven’t seen before but of course Joe is going to do his version of it.” and the fact that he has made it so accessible – so affordable.

Joe Fresh is about to have a huge impact south of the border with the fashion label appearing in 600 JC Penny stores across the US.

“Now I don’t think any other Canadian has done that”. Jeanne Beker

Jeanne Beker Talks Mercedez-Benz Start Up Winner DUY

Jeanne says choosing the winner of the Mercedez-Benz Start Up contest winner –  was a tough choice given the exceptional competition. Montreal designer Duy Nguyen was the winner out of the eight young designers from across Canada. Jeanne had some words from the wise for him and all aspiring Canadian fashion designers. Christopher Bates had a elegant men’s wear line with a James Bond theme. Jeanne says she has “no doubt at all that that guy is going to make it”.

Jeanne Beker’s essential advice for aspiring fashion designers:

1. “Hunker down”
2. “Its all about building a brand”
3. “Business must be balanced with the talent”

Jeanne says it is vital to look for the potential to build a brand because it (Fashion design) really is about building a brand these days. It’s about telling a story from a unique point of view. It is vital that the collection is permeated with stories that are compelling. DUY really stole the show because he had so many great ideas. There were really interesting mixing of fabrications, lines, and intricacies of some of his cuts.

“It was a joyful, interesting show to watch.” Jeanne Beker

But creativity is not everything in the cutthroat world of Fashion Design. Any aspiring designer needs to focus and understand that the business must be balanced with the talent to really get ahead in the Fashion industry. “Hunker down”.

Jeanne admits that it is very hard to promote oneself in this country. She says it takes a real entrepreneurial spirit and a lot of financial backing that is not readily available. Jeanne’s final words for the future – (Canada) we certainly have the creative talent and we do have designers with unique points of view and the key is to get their business chops honed.

Moira Romano