N.B. Designer Has Unique Path To Toronto Catwalk

Creating a dress with bathroom tissue was an interesting challenge for a fashion designer from Grand Bay-Westfield, N.B.

Chavah Lindsay is one of 16 Canadian designers featured in the Cashmere Collection in Toronto on September 25, 2019.

Lindsay was in Halifax, N.S. with her family on the March break when she received the invitation to participate.

“I got an email and I quickly checked it behind my back. I was like ‘what is this?’ I showed my husband and he sort of did a double-take. It was inviting me to be part of the Cashmere Collection.” Lindsay said in an interview.

At first, she didn’t believe it, thinking it was spam mail but, asked a few questions and quickly learned it was a genuine invitation.

Lindsay studied fashion design at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design in Fredericton, N.B. and fashion marketing at Humber College in Toronto, O.N

“Four years ago I started my business, I specialize in women’s wear, anything from bridal to cocktail gowns. So, yeah, it’s definitely not completely out there but, it was a little odd to be asked to make a dress out of bathroom tissue.” Lindsay said.

Lindsay tells us the tissue arrived is very large sheets that nearly covered the floor space at her studio.

“My top and bottom I re-made probably three times. One time I was just about done the top part, mine is a two-piece gown so the top is a corset.
Just finishing and I pulled it out from the sewing machine and my needle caught it and ripped it. I had to start the top all over again. ” Lindsay said.

Lindsay said she had a lot of positive responses on her dress including some who reached out saying they want the dress.

“And I’ve had to say ‘well, it’s made of bathroom tissue but, I can definitely re-create it with real fabric'” Lindsay said.

People can vote on their favourite dress and be eligible to win prizes and with every vote, one dollar will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Society.