Designer Biddell visits Fanshawe

Aspiring Fanshawe fashion and merchandising students and a small number of staff joined together to welcome Project Runway Canada 2007 winner Evan Biddell and Brooklyn Brownstone, design coordinator for the Fashion Design Council of Canada.

On Thursday February 11, the duo came to speak to hopeful students about the realities and successes a designer can achieve if they truly believe in their craft and love what it is they do.

Moments prior to entering the packed auditorium, Biddell learned fashion icon Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London home, and therefore struggled to find the right words for the anxiously awaiting students.

Building up his courage Biddell slowly began speaking about his experiences at present and prior to becoming the winner of PRC back in 2007.

Evan Biddell

Fashion has always played a huge part in my life, he would go on to say — reminiscing about growing up in the prairies and later moving to Toronto following his big win on the runway.

Biddell's imagination and inspiration comes from everything he sees throughout his life, and emphasized that he does not particularly get inspired “by only one thing.”

Brownstone made note of Biddell's unique and sometimes over-the-top imagination is the reason he is able to sell himself to prospective buyers.

“My first priority is not to make money,” Biddell would add.

Brownstone believes Biddell to be one in a handful of Canadian designers who makes a big name for himself by continually selling himself and by having the “right attitude to go with the job.”

Aside from spending 12 hours each day designing his garments, Biddell loves what he creates day in and day out and couldn't see it any other way.

“Biddell has a huge...huge gift...He is a visionary,” said Iman, a high profile fashion model and judge on PRC 2007 upon naming Biddell the winner.