KPU design alumna puts spotlight on “slow fashion” at Vancouver Fashion Week

Thu, Mar 17, 2016

Vancouver, B.C. – Wilson School of Design Fashion design and technology alumna Negin Izad took her slow fashion designs to the Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) runway this week.

Izad had the opportunity to showcase eight pieces from her collection NOCTEX at the Chinese Cultural Centre, alongside collections from other local schools. Now in its 16th year and 27th season, VFW supports up-and-coming designers, and this year, Izad was one of them.

'With this collection I focused on hand painting textiles and really stacking each look with lots of wearable pieces,” said Izad. “I do collections in numbers not seasons, so there’s a real overlap of mix and match in each collection.”

Izad’s career in fashion entrepreneurship started with her work in the vintage and used garment industry at 17, where she was exposed to the wasteful side of fashion. This realization led her to uncover the ugly truth of the extreme effects the fashion industry can have on a global level.

Izad graduated last year from the Wilson School of Design. When she first began in the school’s fashion design and technology program in 2011, she developed her own initiative, NOCTEX.

NOCTEX is a dead stock textile-based brand, operating from a small factory in Vancouver. Its mission is to produce garments with transparent practices that attempt to avoid the wastefulness and consequences of the fast-paced modern fashion industry.

“We constantly strive to provide consumer education on the global fashion market and its effects as a brand and a member of the slow fashion community. We continue to grow and find innovative ways to improve the overall garment experience,” said Izad. 

Along with her individual work, Izad often collaborates with other independent artists and designers to create limited pieces for the brand. “Our customer is the modern global citizen – always on the go, and truly lives in what she wears,” said added.

For more on NOCTEX and Izad’s collection, visit shopnoctex.com. Photos are available here.

The Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University is a leader in design education, playing a significant role in shaping the design leaders of tomorrow. Located on Canada’s spectacular West Coast, the Wilson School of Design offers seven unique programs through certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree, and post-baccalaureate qualifications. With its purposefully small class sizes, hands-on learning approaches, faculty expertise, direct connection with industry and the advanced technological resources, the School of Design instills a deep understanding of design thinking and the design process. For more information about the Wilson School of Design, please visit kpu.ca/design.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has served the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 learners. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs in business, liberal arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 120 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at kpu.ca.    

Media contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist
t: 604.599.2883
c: 604.364.1288
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca

For more KPU news:
@KPUmedia
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