The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute welcomes three new designers to the 2021 fellowship program

The Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute (SRFI) recently welcomed it’s fifth cohort of fellows, featuring three fashion designers and alumni of the School of Fashion. Nadine Mosallam, Curtis Oland and Wazne Song will work with the SRFI to bridge the gap between fashion education and practice, guided by their respective interests and design goals. 

Nadine Mosallam

Nadine Mosallam graduated from the School of Fashion in 2017 and is the founder of the eponymous womenswear label based in London, UK, Nadine Mos. Her label is a celebration of femininity and the beauty found in everyday life. Mosallam believes that fashion should be ethical, accessible, supportive, and slow. Her label reflects these values. Mosallam was also recently featured in Vogue (external link, opens in new window) , where the author detailed her design story and how her brand was created.

Mosallam’s design approach is about telling personal stories through elements of her culture and heritage, evoking feelings of home and comfort. She keeps her client in mind throughout her design process, ensuring the garments bring a sense of peace and comfort to the wearer. As someone who appreciates art and sculpture, her clothes are designed to follow the natural shape of the body. Mosallam prioritizes the relationship with her clients and welcomes conversation, reflection and connection of all kinds. 

Curtis Oland

Curtis Oland graduated from the School of Fashion in 2016. He is a First Nations Lil’Wat-Canadian garment designer and interdisciplinary artist, originally from the Okanagan Valley and currently based in Vancouver, B. C.

As an Indigenous designer, Oland showcases his heritage by featuring wilderness, nature and mountainous landscapes. Through his work, he celebrates and honours land, spirit and materiality. His designs are intersectional; crossing over paths in art, fashion, performance, installation, film, and creative direction. He works collaboratively with other artists and designers to tell diverse and complex stories. 

Wanze Song

Wanze Song is a Chinese-Canadian designer based in Toronto, Canada and 2016 alum from the School of Fashion. Song brings a global perspective to her aesthetic and  has worked with local and international brands and designers including Beaufille, Kiko Kostadinov, and Xiao Li.

Song is currently launching her own fashion label and aims to showcase her work in a harmonious and ruminative manner. Focusing on innovative pattern cutting, her brand values quality, functionality and modesty, all while taking a detailed approach to design and creativity.

The SRFI has become a hallmark program for students and alumni ready to take the initial steps forward in their fashion careers and practice. Since the launch, the Institute has contributed over $600,000 to directly support the careers of the Fellows. This support, along with mentorships and programming has enabled the Fellows to complete international master’s educations, showcase collections at fashion weeks, compete on a global scale, including international competitions, solidify initial stockists, and develop textile innovations and solutions for a stronger industry.

The three talented designers entering the fellowship will join the five existing fellows currently in the program. These are: Alexandra Armata, Sara He, Lynda Hey, Stephanie Moscall-Varey and Olivia Rubens. 

To keep up with the new fellows, follow the Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute on social media  (external link, opens in new window) and visit their website (external link, opens in new window) . 

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