By Adriana Christianson

Saskatchewan Fashion Week showcasing local industry

May 10, 2013 | 7:24 AM

The Canadian Prairies aren’t usually considered to be a hotbed of fashion, but the industry is growing and you can see the proof on the runway at Saskatchewan Fashion Week in Regina.

Rhea Harbus started Amaranth Designs 13 years ago, but since that time she has seen the local industry take off.

“Even a few years ago there was only a couple of us that were doing design in Regina and now that has exploded, there’s so many more of us,” she commented.

Harbus will be showcasing her new fall and winter line for custom women’s fashions this year.

This is the second year running for the event held at City Square Plaza in downtown Regina and Harbus is one of 26 designers who will be featured from across Western Canada.

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The event is also opening doors for up and coming local designers like Sheri Sopczak who tarted her handbag company Chicks and Girlies three years ago after selling her first bag on Facebook.

Since then her business has taken off, shipping custom made handbags as far away as Australia and Sweden.

Sopczak sees how the local fashion industry is growing.

“People are getting more excited about all the new designers that are coming out and it’s just incredible,” she commented. “To be able to open up the world of fashion to Saskatchewan.”

She says all Saskatchewan designers are unique but they do have one thing in common.

“We’re real, we’re homegrown – it doesn’t matter that we see amazing things everywhere, this is where we’re from,” she said.

Saskatchewan Fashion Week will also feature hair stylists and makeup artists along with art installations and music performances along with a free runway program on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

You can buy tickets online at saskfashionweek.com and Cornwall Centre Guest Services.

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