Meghan Buckley, a 2015 alumna of the Vancouver Community College (VCC) Fashion Arts diploma program, has been nominated for the The Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) Fashion Design Student Award. She is one of four graduates that have been selected as a possible recipient of the new self/peer nominated prize category that will be presented to an exceptional recent graduate from a Canadian fashion design program.
“I’m in shock,” says Meghan. “Being chosen as a finalist is an honour but the opportunity to attend the awards in Toronto where I can network with designers like Jason Wu and Kimberley Newport-Mimran of Pink Tartan is amazing!”
Created to celebrate and support the Canadian fashion industry, CAFA is in its third year. “CAFA’s ongoing objective is to provide a platform for new and established designers, photographers, stylists and models to gain recognition both at home and abroad,” said Vicky Milner, CAFA managing director. “Over the last year, we’ve evolved our awards categories with the intent of expanding our audience and reaching out to different sectors of the industry. In addition, this year’s initiatives will focus on establishing connections between industry professionals from across the nation as well as internationally to promote the growth of our talent’s profile and networks exponentially.”
Meghan has been nominated in part for the standout work in her five-piece graduation collection (as seen above). Featuring one-of-a-kind prints, the line was originally shown as part of Fiat Mode - the VCC Fashion Arts grad show in September 2015 at Vancouver Fashion Week. After graduating Meghan interned at Gentle Fawn, who have since hired her as an Assistant Designer.
“Meghan was a great student and we are not surprised to see her competing in this category,” says Andrea Korens, VCC Fashion Arts co-program coordinator. “The exposure it affords her and the opportunities it could lead to in her career are amazing. We appreciate CAFA’s decision to reach out to the fashion schools.”
Winners will be announced at the 2016 Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards Gala on April 15, 2016 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
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Read more about Meghan's design inspiration in The Georgia Straight and Vancouver Sun!
