This year we were incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to attend the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (The CAFAs) as we were nominated for the sustainability award. Known to some as “The Canadian Met Gala” or “The Junos of Fashion”, The CAFAs are an annual celebration of not only achievement but also of emerging talent within the Canadian Fashion industry. The goal is to grow an appreciation of Canadian talent, both at home and abroad, and to encourage the next generations of Canadian talent through an awards show as well as through year-round economic initiatives. On Saturday, October 15th, the annual CAFAs Gala were hosted at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Ontario. Canadians in the fashion industry attended from all over the world to celebrate and award the work of designers, models, content creators, and trailblazers from all corners of the industry, from design to marketing to production and beyond.
Founder Inder Bedi and wife/partner in crime Vandna Tuknat walking the red carpet at the 2022 CAFA awards
It all started in late 2011, when creative producer and makeup artist Jacki Gideon and financial expert and philanthropist Brittney Kelleher came up with the idea of a national awards show exclusively for Canadian fashion. They pulled their colleague Susan Hart to take over communications and branding and spent the next several months developing the preliminary ideas for the concept of a Canadian fashion awards show. Fairly quickly, by February 2nd 2012, the three women launched an early CAFA model at the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto. Shortly after, Gideon parted from the team to pursue the launch of her own personal beauty brand and boutique, and Kelleher and Hart teamed up to refine and execute what we know today as the CAFA awards.
This year, there were just under 95 nominees for 19 awards surrounding design, sustainability, and impact. We are incredibly humbled at BEDI to be among the designers nominated for the Sustainability Award alongside fellow nominees and previous winners Mark, Ania and Adam Taubenfliegel of Triarchy denim for their responsibly made denim.
Other nominees for this award included Ecologyst for their apparel made from natural fibers in Victora, BC, Thesus for their environmentally progressive footwear, and Wuxley for their vegan and Canadian made outerwear. The sustainability award was finally taken home by well-deserving Fashion Takes Action’s Kelly Drenan for their impact in bringing awareness to sustainable and ethical practices within the fashion industry.
Kelly Drenan from Fashion Takes Action accepting the 2022 sustainability award.
We were so happy to be present to see so many of our friends walk the stage and accept awards in their own respective categories, such as Myles Sexton (who we named the MYLES Crewneck after) for this year’s Digital Creator award, our neighbours at Maguire for their award for emerging talent in accessories, and fellow Montreal based Marie-Ève Lecavalier for bringing home the award for womenswear designer of the year.
Inder congratulated Myles, now close friend, on his huge achievement: The 2022 Digital Creator award.
After a night full of glamour, fashion, and celebration, we hurried home to Montreal to host our grand opening event taking place tonight at our new flagship store, 5432 Blvd Saint-Laurent, Montreal, H2T 1S1. Click here for more information on the event - if you are in Montreal, we hope to see you there!
