Evan Biddell finished with a flourish during the debut season of Project Runway Canada, taking top honours and instantly transferring his success to the Canadian design scene.  He shares his passion for design, his reaction to the comparisons with Alexander McQueen, and why Toronto needs a fashion intervention:

ChickAdvisor: Back when you were starting out, what motivated you to jump into the fashion industry and become a participant on Project Runway? What did you think your chances of succeeding were (in both the show and the industry)? 

Evan Biddell: I have always been a fashion designer, success wasn't necessarily something I was concerned with. I just do what I do, because it's what I know.


CA: Where do you find inspiration for your designs? 

EB: Powerful people, epic stories, and sometimes, things just pop into my head, and I make them. 

CA: I’m sure you have heard that you’re being labeled the ‘Alexander McQueen’ of Canada – do you feel any pressure from the industry because of the expectations that come with that perception, or does it give you the confidence to keep doing the designs that you’re best known for? 

EB: I don't know what to say to that. I think it may be because we had a similar attitude towards the industry. Or because he was an unassuming talent. He was the greatest showman the fashion industry has ever know, and I am just starting my career. He was a romantic, and a genius. I just make weird clothes that no one buys.


CA: What catches your eye – in art, fashion, culture? 

EB: I like pop art, Balenciaga, and dancing.
 
CA: Is this your dream career? Or do you view being a designer as a lifestyle rather than a job? 

EB: It's what I do, and I am lucky enough to be able to do it.
 
CA: What is success in the fashion industry to you? Do you ever fear failure? 

EB: You have to be ready to fail if you ever want to be original. Success to me is to make something new, and to make someone think.

 
CA: How would you describe your personal style and what makes you appreciate the style of others?

EB: I am getting more and more lazy with my own style, I used to dress up more often, then I moved to T.O. where everyone dresses like they are going to a funeral, and I stopped caring about what I wear.  I would be inspired by other people's style in TO, but there isn't anyone that interesting to me here, style wise that is.
 
CA: Do you think fashion in Canada is sustainable and capable of being a trendsetter for the major fashion capitals around the world? 

EB: Nope
 
CA: In another life you were probably _________ ? 

EB: A feline.

by Marayna Dickinson

EvanBiddell.ca