Local Fashion Week are a feast for those who love fashion. Ottawa‘s Fashion Week was hosted at the Convention Centre which made it is accessible to the whole family. It can be a tangible inspiration for aspiring fashion models and designers.

For the second time, I attended the final event of Ottawa Fashion Week (OFW). OFW moved to the new Convention Centre which gave the show more space in which to operate. It allowed for the fashion show and vendor displays to all be in the same room – while not feeling crowded.

OFW is now a partner in Winterlude and its family friendly atmosphere was evident with many parents bringing their kids to see the glamour of the show. Many young people were wide eyed gazing at the fashion models as they strutted the runway. The show is a tangible vision of what comprises the glamor world we see on television.

I had the opportunity to take a peek on how local uber great Ottawa designer Frank Sukhoo puts on a show. I was able to go backstage to see the preparations. From my experience, it looked like many other backstages that I’ve visited in theater – lots of anxious people putting on makeup, getting their hair done and donning costumes.

Sukhoo Sukhoo Couture presented a stunning array of fashions that he says was Asian influenced. He wanted to underline that it was Chinese New Year. His tailoring is always impeccable and choice of fabrics inspiring. His models were delightfully playful on the runway.  At the end, he was treated to a standing ovation.

I definitely got the sense of energy, enthusiasm, hard work and planning that goes into putting together a runway fashion show. The kids in attendance seemed impressed with the final performance.

A runway fashion show is the culmination of dedicated hours to a art that captures imagination. Whether you are looking at fashion modeling or design, the glamor of a show (fashion, theater or otherwise) is always the end game of talent, teamwork, planning and persistence. Seeing these values in action is best reason to bring them to a local Fashion Week – so they can experience it away from the TV – seeing it unfold live before them.