Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) is a biannual fashion event in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Established in 2001 by Jamal Abdourahman, it is recognized as the second-largest fashion week in North America and is known for its strong emphasis on multicultural inclusivity and support for emerging designers[1].
VFW was originally launched in 2001 as International Fashion Week by founder Jamal Abdourahman, with the goal of creating a global runway platform in Vancouver[2]. By 2011, the event had grown so rapidly that organizers had to turn away due to space limitations, reflecting its rising international profile [3].
Format
The event takes place twice yearly, in spring (march/april) and fall (september/october). Each season typically spans six to seven days and showcases over 50 designers from more than 25 countries [1].
Initiatives
Since 2014, the Nancy Mak Award has been presented at Vancouver Fashion Week, a scholarship recognising up-and-coming British Columbia based designers that have a "strong creative vision", a solid business plan, and a desire to expand either their design knowledge or brand’s reach. Awarded once a year, the scholarship is named in honour of Nancy Mak, an active member of the fashion industry and a major supporter of Vancouver Fashion Week during her life.[4]
Vancouver Kids Fashion Week (VKFW) was established in September 2016. The two-day event takes place during Vancouver Fashion Week. VKFW has partnered with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (BCCHF) donating a portion of ticket sales to the Foundation.
Global Fashion Collective (GFC), an expansion of Vancouver Fashion Week, is a platform specialising in supporting creative designers by establishing their presence around the world. Launched in October 2017.
Since 2018, Vancouver Fashion Week has been producing a digital magazine Micro Macro Magazine, a contemporary design and culture platform[5].
Impact
With the closure of Toronto Fashion Week, VFW is now the only major biannual Canadian fashion event. The event is open to the public and regularly attracts industry professionals, government officials, and international sponsors such as Jaguar and Bully Blocker [6].
Forbes has spotlighted VFW’s role in showcasing both emerging and established designers from countries including France, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Mexico, the United States, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, India, China, Taiwan, and Ukraine [6].
Notable designers featured include:
Kurriizma (USA) – Gender-neutral brand using “Negative Waste” techniques.
Devyani Mehrotra (India) – Known for rich textures and contemporary Indian silhouettes.
Katherine Lukashyk (Ukraine) – Haute couture gowns in vibrant colors.
Eduardo Ramos (Mexico/Canada) – Winner of the Nancy Mak Award, recognized for hand-painted details and bold silhouettes [6].
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