IMAGES | Hilary MacMillan travels to the gardens of Marrakesh for Spring/Summer 2019 at RE\SET in collaboration with Toronto Fashion Week / .@hilarymacmillan .@resetfsn .@tofashionwk

IMAGES | Hilary MacMillan travels to the gardens of Marrakesh for Spring/Summer 2019 at RE\SET in collaboration with Toronto Fashion Week

Toronto-based womenswear designer Hilary MacMillan presented their Spring/Summer 2019 collection on the runway for RE\SET in collaboration with Toronto Fashion Week on Wednesday, September 5, 2018. Their latest collection of cruelty-free contemporary womenswear transported attendees to Morocco, where the designer realized her inspiration for this season. Notable guests in attendance included Billy Zane, Cindy Sampson, Ellen Dubin, Natasha Negovanlis, Bree Wasylenko, Carly Stojsic, Joan Kelley Walker, Christian Dare, and Susan Langdon. 

While researching for the Spring/Summer 2019 season, creative director and designer Hilary MacMillan discovered one of her much-loved designers Yves Saint Laurent had fallen in love with Morocco also; so much so, he and his partner Pierre Bergé returned to restore the two and a half acre Majorelle Gardens in Marrakesh to live in as their home. After Saint Laurent died in 2008 his ashes were scattered on the property.

For SS19, customers will be charmed by the three variations of Moroccan-inspired prints and the colour palette; featuring blues, reds, white, and oyster. The collection incorporates cotton, cotton blends, neoprene, rayon, and synthetic satins with hook and eye tape, curb link chain, and crystal details.

 

“The stunning vibrancy and colour of the country’s iconic tiles underpin my inspiration for our unique prints this season,” explains designer Hilary MacMillan on the inspiration of her latest collection, “These prints get worked into both contemporary and athleisure separates with unique hardware detailing incorporated into various jackets, skirts and pants.”

 

In 2016, the brand made a commitment to focus on being cruelty-free; no longer using leather, fur, exotic skins, or feathers in any of her garments. For their Spring/Summer 2019 collection, the brand has phased out all silks and wools, proudly becoming one of Canada’s top choices for cruelty-free womenswear.

 

“Animal rights have been a passion of mine for quite some time and I want to transition this into my work,” says the designer, “I have been a vegetarian for most of my life and recently decided to become a vegan. This shift has forced me to explore more faux options and discover new fabrications. Whatever small impact I can make for animal rights is a step in the right direction for my brand, my lifestyle, and my love of all living things.” 

Photo Credit George Pimeltel Photograhphy

Hilary MacMillan is designed in their Toronto studio and retails from $70 to $475 CND. Their designs are available at Hudson's Bay, Shopgirls, GotStyle, Frances Grey, All About Eve, Canopy Blue, and online at hilarymacmillan.com.