Last night in Toronto, the Canadian fashion community gathered for the 11th annual Canadian Art & Fashion Awards (CAFAs), hosted inside the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel. With drag superstar Brooke Lynn Hytes leading the evening, the event honored individuals and brands pushing the boundaries of fashion both locally and internationally. The night’s highlights included a Vanguard Award presentation to supermodel Linda Evangelista, given by her longtime friend and designer Erdem Moralıoğlu.

The red carpet saw attendees embracing Canadian fashion, with nominees and guests sporting local designers. Among the standout appearances were models like Heather Diamond Strongarm, fresh from the Dolce & Gabbana spring show, as well as Lauren Chan and Ashley Callingbull. The awards ceremony recognized excellence across a range of categories, celebrating those who have made a significant impact in the industry. Beaufille took home the Womenswear Designer of the Year award, while Spencer Badu earned the Menswear title. Mathieu Simoneau was honored as Model of the Year, and Ben Barry, the Dean of Fashion at Parsons School of Design, received the Changemaker Award for his efforts to make fashion education more inclusive and diverse.

A new milestone for the CAFAs was announced this year—the introduction of the Indigenous Fashion Award, set to debut in 2025. This new category will highlight the innovative work of Indigenous designers and artists in Canada, recognizing their contributions to the fashion landscape.

Throughout the night, the spotlight shone brightly on Linda Evangelista. The Canadian-born supermodel, known as one of the most iconic figures in fashion, delivered a heartfelt speech while accepting her award. Reflecting on her roots in St. Catharines, she shared how special it was to be in Toronto with her family, a city that once felt like a distant dream. Wearing an elegant Erdem skirt suit, Evangelista spoke passionately about the transformative power of fashion: “For me, fashion has always been a place where dreams, aspirations, and inspirations flourish. The beauty of fashion is there is no right or wrong way of creating it; fashion allows each of us to choose not only how we see ourselves but how we present ourselves to the world.”

The evening at the Fairmont Royal York was a celebration of creativity, community, and the unique vision that defines Canadian fashion, leaving attendees inspired for the future.