VANCOUVER – Aspiring fashion designer Taran Cheema is excited about presenting her designs at this year’s Vancouver Fashion Week after graduating recently from the famed New York City’s Parsons School of Fashion
This is a big step up for Cheema, who has been interested in fashion when she was a young child growing up on the West side of Vancouver in a large and prominent Indo-Canadian family. Developer
Bob Cheema is her uncle (Chacha).
“I was always interested in fashion and I remember making clothes at home,” Cheema tells the LINK over the phone. “I knew that I wanted to be a fashion designer and when I finished I went off to one of the top fashion schools in North America.”
The 22-year-old Vancouver native said the Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) opportunity just fell in her lap and she is extremely lucky to be presenting her five designs at the September 18 show, which will be her first run-way show as a designer. The VFW actually kicks off with the Gala on September 16 at the Chinese Cultural Centre downtown.
Cheema got the chance to showcase her work courtesy of Vancouver Fashion Week producer Jamal Abdourahman, who caught a glimpse of her senior collection from her graduating year at Parsons and immediately knew he had to sponsor her and show the collection at this year’s big fashion extravaganza.
“It’s not going to be easy trying to get my name out there,” Cheema, a former VFW intern, told the Province newspaper, adding that she’ll probably head to London, England, for her masters before she can land a job here.
“(But Vancouver Fashion Week) chose a couple of designers that they’re willing to sponsor, so I’m grateful to be one of them.”
“It’s a step up . . . (and) it’s definitely a networking opportunity — having to intern for them, I know how many people they invite for their fashion shows, like bloggers and media.
“I’ve been working really hard on this collection (and) it’s really great to hear that people are interested and want to know more about it,” she told the Province
According to Abdourahman, he “couldn’t believe” that the bold and colourful couture photos he saw on Facebook was the work of the recent graduate. “It’s beautiful, beautiful work,” he told the Province.
At VFW, Cheema will showcase five looks — each one consisting of three bright, colour-blocked garments, all draped over the model in layers.
“(My collection has) a lot of colour, it’s very geometric shape-based, it’s very futuristic, it’s a lot of colour-blocking,” said Cheema. “Initially when people see it they get confused, but I think once they realize the layers, it’s something magical.”
The collection, along with most of her work, is inspired by her Sikh heritage.
“The way the garments are put on is unique — they’re kind of wrapped like a sari, or a turban,” she said. “It’s more meaningful if I bring my culture into it and I’m always drawn back to it.”
Even though Cheema comes from a traditional Sikh family and she readily admits that they don’t really get the couture outfits she will be showing at VFW but she said her family has been extremely supportive of her passion for fashion.
“They’re a bit confused and they don’t quite get it but they are very proud of me and my work,” Cheema said of her family.
On a sad note, this week her grandfather Sohan Singh Pahal (Nana – mother’s father) suddenly passed away and she is dedicating her show to him.
“The collection was originally inspired by both my grandpas and on Wednesday I lost one, Sohan Singh Pahal. I will really miss him,” Cheema said.
VFW Line-Up!
Sept. 16: Opening gala and sneak preview of designers’ collections, 7 — 11 p.m.
Sept. 17: Opening day, runway shows begin with local, international designers, including Sara Roka and Shelley Klassen of Blushing Designs, runway shows 5 — 8 p.m.
Sept. 18: Emerging, Canadian designers, including four students from LaSalle College design students and local designers Evan Clayton and Dandilion Wind Opaine, runway shows 5 — 8 p.m.
Sept. 19-21: Local and international established designers, including Ha Sang Beg, Veejay Floresca and newcomers Noe Bernacelli from Lima, Peru and local upstart Indiverve, runway shows 5 — 8 p.m.
