The Masters Mix with Leeland Mitchell: Making Fashion Fun Again
Leeland Mitchell, winner of Project Runway Canada, brought a simple but powerful reminder to students from our Fashion School: in an industry full of deadlines and trend cycles, fashion, above all, should be fun.
When a Project Runway Canada winner walks onto your campus, you clear your schedule — because you know the conversation that follows is going to change how you think about design. That's exactly what happened when Leeland Mitchell joined LaSalle College Vancouver's Signature Show for a special edition of The Masters Mix, sitting down with our fashion students for a candid, energizing look at what it really takes to build a career in fashion.
The Masters Mix is a new series from LaSalle College Vancouver that brings bold industry leaders to our Vancouver creative campus for exclusive talks, networking, and inspiration.
A Conversation That Reignited Creativity
Leeland’s roots run deep in Toronto's garment district, in and around Chinatown and Queen West, where his family has run a dry-cleaning business for decades. It's the same neighbourhood where he built his design practice, blending his Chinese and Scottish heritage into the loud, unapologetic, punk-inspired aesthetic that would later carry him to the Project Runway Canada title.
Leeland Mitchell has become known across the industry for a simple but disruptive motto: "Making fashion fun again."
built his name on bold, joyful design, culminating in his win on Project Runway Canada. Based in Toronto, Leeland has become known across the industry for a simple but disruptive motto: "Making fashion fun again."
That idea anchored the entire conversation. In an industry built on deadlines, trend cycles, and commercial pressure, Leeland's message to students was clear: don't lose sight of the creative spark that brought you to fashion in the first place. Real innovation, he argued, comes from designers who trust their own voice rather than chasing what they think the market wants.
Fashion's Global Stage
Fashion remains one of the most dynamic and far-reaching creative industries in the world. Industry forecasts point to steady growth for the global fashion market, with revenue expected to climb toward roughly $2.1 trillion by 2030, fueled by shifting consumer habits and the continued rise of e-commerce. For emerging talent, that growth means more room than ever to build a distinct point of view — and more reason to learn directly from the people already doing it at the highest level.
"When I first discovered Leeland's work and story, I was inspired by his motto: 'Making fashion fun again.' It was a powerful reminder that, in the pursuit of creating commercial products and meeting industry expectations, we can sometimes lose sight of who we are as creatives. This Masters Mix was created to bridge the gap between industry professionals and emerging designers, giving students the opportunity to hear real stories, ask questions, and be inspired by those shaping the future of fashion."
— Ana De Carvalho, Faculty Lead, Fashion Design, LaSalle College Vancouver
Moments like this are why LaSalle College Vancouver keeps building direct connections between students and working professionals, not just to hear from them, but to be part of the conversation.
If Leeland's story resonated with you, or you want to experience more like this, explore the Fashion School at LaSalle College Vancouver and start building a voice of your own.
Follow @leelandxo on Instagram to keep up with Leeland's work.