His exclusive interview with Hannah Yakobi and a sneak peak into his latest collection.

Photography by Dmitri Moisseev.

Videography by Dmitri Moisseev and Hannah Yakobi.

Richard Robinson walks on the podium with his grandson and models at Grande première 2010.

Richard Robinson has been one of Canada’s top designers for 41 years, but his work never ceases to amaze fashionistas.

The audience at his latest show clapped, oooh-ed and aaah-ed endlessly and with great enthusiasm.

This year’s collection – Grande première 2010 – was held at the lavish Hilton Lac Leamy.

It attracted hundreds of top fashionistas from the national capital region, the mayors of both Ottawa and Gatineau, owners and directors of three top modeling agencies in the region and some of the most well-recognized faces from the media industry. Think Colleen McBride, Sophie Beaudoin, Angie Sakla-Seymour and Carol Anne Meehan.

The background story

The collection focused on delicate fabrics and light shades of pink, as it was dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. Robinson noted that he knows a lot of women who have fought breast cancer, including his mother-in-law. His fashion show supported the Canadian Breast Cancer Network.

What made the collection extra special was the personal touch added by the designer. He opened the show by having three of his toddler grandchildren walk down the catwalk. The audience was genuinely touched by their presence and kept cheering them on, as they confidently paraded down the podium. Robinson joined them later and waived back at his supporters. Apart from its introduction, the show itself maintained this personal touch, as Robinson’s wife – Louise Robinson – was one of the models.

The show

Robinson’s show was followed by collections from designers at his fashion school. The categories presented were First-Year Students, New Designers, Graduates and Couturiers.

The spectrum of styles ranged from classic silk dresses, Barbie-doll outfits and business attire, to shirts à la Star Trek, masks and dominatrix-themed glamour.

(Videography: Hannah Yakobi.)

Who stood out?

Particular highlights were:

• Zoë Lianga’s patchwork style dress that was a celebration of colour
• Janessa Ott’s soft satin, deep burgundy collection
• Geneviève Couture’s wedding gowns (she also won the title of the Designer of the Year)
• Meaghan Simard’s glamour of layers, whips, eye patches and feathers (she won the title of the Couturier of the Year)
• Sophie Leclerc’s collection à la Royal Ascot
• Hisham Malik’s exquisite combination of emerald and brown with flowers, hats and lace

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Richard Robinson – 10 trends for 2010

1. Dresses (from very slimming to very puffy)
2. Frills
3. Crystals on all outfits
4. Soft and natural fabrics
5. Slits (often thigh-high)
6. Hats
7. Sparkling jewelry
8. Unconventional designs (think of a dress that has one full sleeve and the other sleeve completely chopped off)
9. Hair updos (à la Audrey Hepburn)
10. Five to six-inch stilettos

Other designers – 20 trends for 2010

1. Explosion of bright colours (from deep green and fuchsia, to sky blue and bright yellow)
2. Layers
3. Puffy shirts
4. Delicate femininity
5. Dresses, dresses, dresses (from office chic to summer tie-dye options)
6. Straight-cut mini skirts and wrap skirts
7. Denim, PVC and fake fur
8. Three-quarter sleeve blouses
9. Silk and linen
10. Patterned stockings and knee-high socks
11. Deep v-necks
12. Lace
13. Oversized eyewear
14. Oversized jewelry
15. Patterns
16. Flowing numbers
17. Bare tummies
18. Longer gloves
19. Clutches and tiny purses (must precisely match the outfit)
20. Vintage chic

For further information, go to http://www.richardrobinson.com/

Programs & Courses is a section that might be of particular interest to starting designers, regardless of their age.

All photography and videography by Dmitri Moisseev. http://www.modelmayhem.com/artisto