Lady Gaga's News

Benji Wong, otherwise known as Benji WZW, is one of the many unconventional fashion designers flocking to Toronto to present a collection at |FAT| (Fashion Art Toronto) this week (April 22-26).

The Hong Kong native was raised in Toronto and studied architecture at University of Waterloo, before up and leaving for a fashion program at Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. His 2013 graduate collection " That Paradise Would Be A Meme" pulled together everything he learned from both experiences, resulting in a surreal work of art that attracted the attention of a whole whack of contemporary publications. Lady Gaga even wore a jacket from the collection in an eTalk interview.

" Fall in Love With Machinery" is Benji's first endeavour out of school, and according to him, there's no better place to make his Fall/Winter 2014 debut than his hometown on the |FAT| runway this Thursday. After getting a chance to preview the menswear pieces in the flesh, I know he'll fit right in.

Taking inspiration from Japanese biker gang bosozoku, the collection narrates a story of hurt and heartbreak. Innovative fabric treatments and meticulously handcrafted details illustrate the push and pull of a poised, polished surface - broken and jagged on the inside. Digital-printed faux leather and couch foam bonded to silk satin give the biker jackets, trench coats, and kilts a structured silhouette; 3D printed embellishments, handpainted belts and holographic imagery suggest there's more to them than meets the eye. My favourite facet is definitely the creepy-cool baby motif found throughout the collection - most notably in the form of a giant helmet.

Always teetering on the fine line between wearable garment and postmodern sculpture, Benji WZW - together with |FAT| - is going to shake up the otherwise conservative Canadian fashion industry one avant-garde menswear piece at a time.

Tickets are available online or at the door, at $35 per day or $100 for a full week pass.