Malorie Urbanovitch (born 1987) is a Canadian fashion designer from Edmonton, Alberta known for her ethically conscious clothing, a pared-down aesthetic and utilitarian designs.[1] In 2017, The Globe and Mail called her one of Canada's top new designers.[2][3]
Education
Urbanovitch graduated in film studies from the University of Alberta. While at school, she made clothes on the side for fun. After participating in a local runway show on a whim, she was prompted to take fashion more seriously. At her second show in Calgary, she won an award which led to her first collection being presented in Toronto.[4]
Career
Urbanovitch launched her namesake clothing line in 2012 which included knitted sweaters, hand painted pieces and 3D printed accessories.[4] Since then, she has presented her collections several times at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto, where she won the Mercedes-Benz Start Up award in 2013.[1][5][6] In 2015, she was nominated for an emerging designer prize at the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards.[7][1][8] Her 2016 collection was described as "... one of her best as she brought vintage inspired looks with contemporary cuts to the runway using a northern winter inspired color palette mixed in with the chic allure of 1980s Industrialism."[9][10]
Urbanovitch regularly works as a stylist at the Fashion with Compassion fund raising event, where she approached buyers from Simons about stocking her line.[11] Since 2015, her clothing can be found at the Canadian department store.[1][12]
Concerned about animal rights, Urbanovitch chose ethnically sourced angora from Nova Scotia for her 2014 collection, as opposed to China where the rabbits are mistreated.[13] Being a feminist, she has selected non-conventional models for her runway shows and also aims to make clothing that is utilitarian, thereby comfortable for women to wear.[14]