Two and a half years ago, sisters Chloe and Parris Gordon started their designer label, Chloe Comme
Parris, while in school. Showing for the first time during LG Fashion Week this past October, their
spring/summer 2011 collection was inspired by the 14th and 15th centuries.
While Chloe works away at the ready-to-wear designs, Parris makes one-of-a-kind jewelry by hand to compliment
the garments. The result is fierce, timeless and playful collections that always use elements from menswear.
“I always start with menswear. I find that historically, menswear had a lot of detail and femininity,” says
Chloe. The 22-year-old described the collection as “effortlessly chic tomboy,” and something that women with
busy lifestyles can quickly slip on, run out and look great in.
Many designers have a fantasy or fictional character that they relate to and design their collections for.
For Chloe, this girl finds a stylish balance between eveningwear and daywear and isn’t afraid to explore with
different types of fabrics. “I stay true to my girl and what she’s all about. My collections are a
combination of my girl and myself. I’d say 80 per cent reality and 20 per cent fantasy,” says the young
talent.
With a minimalist approach to her designs, Chloe plays with detail subtly and puts them in unexpected places
on garments. She works with stitching and seaming to create unique textures and does all of the fabric dying
and print making by hand.
Having recently moved to the east end of Toronto, she’s surrounded by homeless shelters and homelessness on
the streets on her drive home. This has stimulated her designs to incorporate what she calls “nomadic
cultures and people.” “I see all of these homeless people and it doesn’t make sense, but it still does. This
is why my collections are all about throwing things together unconsciously…black, nomadic clothing,” she
says.
The other half of the label, Parris, 20, is currently going to school in Halifax. Majoring in jewelry, Parris
hand crafts all of the jewelry and material for the label. The next step for these designers is incorporating
bags and shoes into their collections. Their handbag collection is expected to come out within the next year
and their expansion into the shoe world in two years.
Staying true to their Canadian roots, their ultimate goal is to have their products sold in luxury department
store Holt Renfrew. They are currently working on their fall/winter collection and are hoping to show again
at LG Fashion Week this coming March. •
For more information on Chloe Comme Parris, visit chloecommeparris.ca.
