SARAH RUNNALLS

When I set out to cover Vancouver Fashion Week, I was committed to giving coverage to young women designers. Of course I have written posts on some great male designers also. However, I am in part bringing attention to a new women’s movement. We are in a time when women are now creating a lot of the garments they will wear. I have been excited by the women designers that showed at Vancouver Fashion Week. One of these designers is Sarah Runnalls .

Sarah Runnalls grew up in Victoria B.C., where she first started creating clothing in secondary school. Therefore, a logical choice to continue her fashion education was at the Blanche Macdonald Center in Vancouver. The creativity I have seen from the Blanche Macdonald alumni, is incredible, these designers include Evan Clayton, Peter Zuk and of course Sarah Runnalls. In Sarah’s collection, named “Emotions” the creativity is foremost and the collection has a playful nature that has an emotional impact.

SARAH RUNNALLS PRESENTS

“EMOTIONS”

What Sarah Runnalls put down the runway was certainly a creative presentation. While showing a collection of beautifully constructed garments there is an experimental and playful element.

First I would like to draw attention to a wonderfully playful palette of primary colors, coupled with a neutral beige, and white. However what really stood out was the use of a playful outlining technique, on some of the garments it was like silly string and been sprayed. While this technique is also used to outline appliques of human features like hands, hearts and eyes.

Turquoise and red is a color combination that gives energy, the first two garments down the runway just popped. A white jacket with black string detail and turquoise slacks, and a turquoise top with a ruffled detail on the arms with red shorts and polka-dot tights. Here Runnalls shows her ability to tailor a garment. There are also pieces that you might find madly useful, you never realized you needed until you had them. These pieces include a precise white shirt, a red skirt and top, a beige midi-skirt, a black trouser among others, all chic wardrobe staples.

SARAH RUNNALLS

In fact, some of the most creative pieces are tulle dresses with colored appliques. These pieces are light and transparent, like the controlled presence of an inner fairy. What is present is a form of a control over chaos. Emotions are represented by hands and crying eyes , by color and by texture. What appears to be organza and mesh make up these dresses with bits of yarn sometimes hanging and on others creating images of hands and eyes. It is these dresses that win me over. There’s an irresistible tenderness to Sarah Runnalls work that’s enough to leave the most cynical of fashion insiders wanting more.

SARAH RUNNALLS

Certainly, I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite of these whimsical dresses. Although we see a fun and carefree approach with color and design, we also see the imagery of the emotional content. In fact, the dress with crying tears coming from eyes placed on breasts, with hands reaching towards the eyes has a sadness, juxtaposed to the brilliant bright colors.

Moreover this collection includes a number of pieces in black and white polka dots, a signature pattern for Sarah Runnalls. As designer Marc Jacobs so eloquently put it “I don’t think there is ever a wrong time for a polka dot …”! The joy of Sarah’s dolka dots set this collection alive with classic style.

SARAH RUNNALLS COLLECTION

Certainly, this collection is a creative tour de force. I titled the collection as creative chic, and both these elements work in unison. A delicious yellow tulle top, epitomizes the creative energy of the collection. Moreover an experimental black tulle dress with appliques screams chic. The only thing that may be missing is a huge show stopper to close collection. Notably the talent shown is evidenced by Runnalls being awarded a prize from Vancouver fashion icon Sue Randhawa of The Opitical Boutique.

Please contact Sarah to enquire about adding one of her creations to your wardrobe.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrunnallscollection/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahRunnallsCollection/

IN CONCLUSION

While writing the posts from Vancouver Fashion Week, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how much creativity, energy and expense goes into creating a collection. Therefore these young designers should be given kudos for appearing on the runway. The creativity, energy and expense was all left on the runway by Sarah Runnals.

With this in mind, I applaud the designers and those who support them. Whether through attending their shows and volunteering, buying their garments, writing about and publicizing their collections, giving sponsorship or giving them a platform to exhibit their creations. I encourage you all to reach out to your local fashion community and encourage an often neglected group of creative artists. A special thank-you must go out to Jamal Abdourahman and the staff and volunteers of Vancouver Fashion Week for supporting the fashion community.