VCFS 2021: IN THE MAKING
VCFS never sleeps. Immediately after the final curtain of our 2020 production, “As We Are,” the Vogue Charity Fashion Show’s 2021 performance was within arms reach! However, to create a show, you need the vision. In order to achieve that vision, VCFS hires 3 new creative directors that work tirelessly to produce an overarching theme for the incoming show. This year, those 3 directors are Anika Ines Bousquet, Erin Healy and Lyba Nasir!
The creative process is ceaseless. It begins with an abundance of research in order to derive inspiration to centre the theme around. After a thorough process of elimination, the team arrives at the final and chosen theme. Because the majority of “creating” is done throughout the summer and behind the scenes, the complexities of the creative responsibility are often unseen. That responsibility is to a team of over 150 students that make up Canada’s largest student run fashion show. As well, to a community that for 23 years has witnessed this legacy unfold and grow with each passing performance. All teams centre their efforts around the creative direction and the theme. As a result, that theme has an undeniable and absolute power. Therefore, you can only imagine the anticipation of learning what the new theme is going to be!
In order to get a little glimpse into this year’s creative process, Anika, Erin and Lyba have explained some of the ways they collect inspiration and use that to capture the final vision!
A message from the 2020-2021 Creative team:
“Using a combination of our individual strengths and shared interests, we have been collaborating through a variety of creative platforms. These range from Pinterest to Thesaurus.com to Spotify (sorry Apple Music). We have been working to create a theme that is accessible and relevant for everyone, while still conveying a deeper message! Our research process entailed analyzing everything from past Met Galas to concepts we have learned in school. Open communication and frequent meetings have been key in unifying our thought processes and developing a cohesive vision!”
Alongside working as a team to achieve cohesion, our lovely directors have also taken time to individually collect their thoughts and inspiration so they can bring a bunch of great ideas to the table. Here is a little peek into how they’ve done so!
When I asked the creative team what we can expect for this year’s show, they said…
“Dynamic. Accessible. Multidimensional.”
They’ve got my attention… The big reveal couldn’t come any sooner!
Anika Ines Bousquet // Creative Director
“As someone with a background in music, it’s been lots of fun drawing inspiration from a wide range of songs. Finding the right piece of music to fit a concept or theme idea is challenging, but really encourages you to dive below the surface of an idea and extract certain emotions or narratives that could shape the show. Spotify recommends songs that have a similar vibe to ones you were listening to before, making it a lot easier to discover new or more obscure music.
When working in a group, there are moments when encapsulating ideas in words can be difficult. Music and visuals have been incredibly powerful tools in creating a nuanced and cohesive vision.”
Erin Healy // Creative Director
“I have been obsessed with Pinterest for years and now I have a reason to spend even more time on it!! (Follow me on Pinterest Erinn0219 for some quality content) Pinterest is super helpful to organize and remember my ideas, it’s such a good platform to see creative ideas and find inspiration for the show. I make inspo boards for the clothing and design, as well as the overall mood and aesthetic of each scene. I also sometimes screenshot pics from other places like Instagram or different websites and turn them into pins and put them in a specific board. I am so excited for this year’s show!!”
Lyba Nasir // Creative Director
“There is no limit to what can shape your creative process. I have tried not to confine myself to just things that are typically associated with fashion. Focusing on what I think the show should convey and what I want people to take away from it has been key. These include broader messages as well as stylistic details, which I have found everywhere from books to Pinterest. The world is truly your oyster!”
What makes VCFS so special is the past 23 years of creative visions that have founded moving and memorable performances. Our legacy continues as Anika, Erin and Lyba work day and night to perfect this year’s theme.
As the anticipation for the big theme reveal grows more and more, so does the theme itself. The release for the 2021 theme is set for the beginning of July! Our executive team is beyond excited to tackle VCFS’ 24th year and welcome a number of new members to our team. Stay tuned for more!
Press and Media Editor
Mikayla Bergamin