Toronto’s Regent Park has transformed from a stigmatized “no-go” zone into a vibrant, inclusive community. This journey is chronicled in Rhythms of Change: Reflections on the Regent Park Revitalization, a new book by Mitchell Cohen, President and CEO of The Daniels Corporation.

In the early 2000s, Regent Park underwent a revitalization that set a global standard for urban renewal. Cohen’s book explores this transformation, blending insights on urban planning, architecture, and community development. As a social activist and visionary leader, Cohen shares a personal perspective on how collaboration and innovation can reshape neighborhoods.

The George Brown College’s Fashion Exchange is proud to have been part of this project and honoured to be mentioned in Cohen’s work. Our involvement highlights the impact of community partnerships in fostering sustainable change.

Congratulations to Mitchell Cohen on this achievement! We encourage everyone to explore this powerful story. The book is now available at different book retailers. Visit the link below.

GBC – By GBC

Sep14, 2023

Where style meets function. The Fashion Exchange (FX) applied research program enables industry collaboration with GBC research teams to address technical challenges and research questions specific to the partner organization. FX brings together fashion researchers, educators, industry partners, community organizations, and fashion graduates to innovate for an increasingly sustainable, socially conscious, and economically vibrant fashion industry.

GBC – By GBC Research

April 11, 2023

As home to one of the Top 50 international Fashion Schools, George Brown College works proactively with industry stakeholders to advance research and innovation in the areas of design, creative arts, materials, and production methods. GBC research team and FX worked with partners Zoran Dobric to explore new ways of printing and incorporate new technologies into Zoran’s design process, helping to streamline design and production while still pushing the envelope of new innovative fashion creations. Big shout out to principal investigator Marysol Kim and students researches Caludia Gordilho and Mariana Custodio. Read more

GBC – By GBC Research

April 11, 2023

GBC research team and FX worked with partners @MaydinChyna to develop a research project on how to offer customers a custom fit while maintaining the freedom of remain creative, sustainable and purpose driven. Investigators Mana Mojaver and students, Ananda Sophie Quadros de Andrade and Carson Feng successfully explored and found a solution by using 3D body measurement technology to recreate the best fit for customers. Read more

True North Living

For many, fast fashion is a budget-friendly option for updating their wardrobe. But unfortunately, fast fashion often benefits consumers at the expense of the environment and manufacturing workers. Recognizing the implications of this issue, George Brown College’s Fashion Exchange (FX) is working on sustainable solutions.

Local support, global impact

Located in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood, the Fashion Exchange is tackling global problems while supporting the local community with training, research, and consulting support. Focusing on end-to-end sustainable production, the FX team champions a “make what you need attitude.” They encourage — and provide — digital software that maximizes fabric usage and reduces waste.

The Fashion Exchange also helps small, local companies bring their products to market faster and for a competitive price through its professional services. For Rosa Fracassa, Chair of the School of Fashion and Jewellery at George Brown, the idea of Canadian-made is the future. “We believe in creating fashion locally. Not only does this support the environment, but it also means we’re supporting ethical production that meets Canadian labour standards.”

Fashionable research

In recent years, George Brown’s School of Fashion and Jewellery and the Fashion Exchange have collaborated with industry partners on applied research projects. The Leading Innovation in Fashion Technology lab (FX LIFT) has the potential to transform the industry.

One of the technologies available at the FX LIFT is an EPSON dye sublimation printer for custom textile printing. This partnership with EPSON is an important step toward sustainable production because the printer is waterless and maximizes fabric usage. There’s more work to be done, but with George Brown’s focus on the environment, the next generation of fashion leaders will graduate knowing sustainability is the way forward.

Learn more https://www.georgebrown.ca/arts-design-information-technology/fashion-jewellery/fashion

The hidden price of your clothes, a topic that is getting more and more attention these days.

Leah Barret, GBC Professor and Anika Kozlowski, Professor Ryerson University were invited to participate in a CBC Marketplace story about the hidden human price of fashion. FX was the location for the interview where students Ayca Emine Yilmaz, Mariel Solis Cartes, Carly Jones and Sierra Snow were also invited. Leah and Anika spoke to this concerning matter from their experiences and research.

The people at the bottom of the supply chain are the most affected by cheap fast fashion often toiling extended hours for minimum pay and in unsafe working conditions.

Learn more https://www.cbc.ca/news/marketplace/the-hidden-price-of-your-clothes-1.6238325

Meet the winners of George Brown’s MAKECanada competition, who are creating clothing for a post-pandemic world.

We are trilled to present @makecanada winners !! 

Sarah Jill DeCoste, created “MY MASK”. Three face-masks, specifically designed for those without limitations, those who wear head coverings, and those who have a beard/turban. After several prototypes, “MY MASK” has been perfected and uses luxury textiles, Silk and SeaCell, to ensure consumer comfort.

Sareh Ghomi & Mehrshad Hajabdolazim Naraghi designed and produced HOPE accessories to help fight the mental health issues caused by the environment. They realized that remembering the word “HOPE” will help people to stay positive and survive this difficult times.

Vishali Sitharthan saw an opportunity for circular fashion in the PPE scraps from the pandemic and designed an upcycled PPE puffer coat. She used PPE as a stuffing inside the puffer jacket to avoid direct contact with the wearer’s body and used a fabric made from recycled plastic bottles to use as an outer shell.

Read more  https://www.thestar.com/life/together/people/2021/10/03/makecanada-contest-winners-are-creating-clothes-for-a-post-pandemic-world.html

New Trail – UALBERTA

https://www.ualberta.ca/newtrail/how-to/how-to-fashion-a-sustainable-future.html

“It’s not just me. Environmental sustainability is a fundamental issue for the fashion industry, according to Marilyn McNeil-Morin, ’77 BSc(HEc), director of the Fashion Exchange (FX) at George Brown College. She says the industry has a firm hand in global pollution and contributes around 85 million tonnes of textile waste into landfills every year”.  – LISA SZABO