Signature

SIGNATURE 2026

On May 28, seven designers, current students and alumni, took the stage at LaSalle College Vancouver's very first Signature Show, bringing seven distinct worlds to life on the runway. From the show behind the show to a very special guest, this is everything that made the night unforgettable.

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A group of nine people pose for a photo in front of a black backdrop featuring the "SIGNATURE 2026" logo at the top. Several individuals are holding bouquets of flowers.

First editions are never forgotten. This is ours.

LaSalle College Vancouver presented its very first Signature Show, and for those who know the LCI Education network, they know exactly what that means. Signature is not just a fashion show. It is the event that has defined LCI as one of the world's leading fashion design networks. Born in Montreal, celebrated across our global campuses, and recognized internationally as a benchmark of fashion education excellence, Signature is what our Fashion Design program is known for. And on May 28, for the first time, it was Vancouver's turn.

A man speaks on a stage in front of an audience, with a large "WELCOME TO SIGNATURE 2026" logo displayed behind him.

The First Seven

They were the first. Seven designers — current students and alumni — who said yes to something that didn't exist yet, who picked up the challenge months before and built something entirely from their own imagination, hands, and conviction.

What unfolded on that runway was as diverse as the people who walked it. A journey through the emotional weight of growing up. A bold homage to Mexican identity in the digital age. Feminine power rooted in quiet authority. The body as a living landscape. Couture as inheritance. Two voices from Iran speaking through the same collection. Each designer brought a completely different world to the runway — and yet together, they told the story of a program that celebrates individuality above everything else. This wasn't one vision of fashion. It was seven.

A model walks down a runway in a dramatic pink ruffled gown, with an audience applauding in the background under purple lighting.
A model showcases a long, form-fitting gown with an oversized hat on a runway, while an audience applauds on either side.

"SIGNATURE gives our students the opportunity to experience what it truly means to design for the runway, pushing their imagination and creative boundaries while elevating their craftsmanship through constant problem-solving. Beyond the garments, they learn how to put their names and creative voices out into the world, connect with industry, and turn their talent into new professional opportunities."
— Ana De Carvalho, Faculty Lead – Fashion Design, LaSalle College Vancouver

The Show Behind the Show

Here's something people don't always see: a fashion show of this scale doesn't happen because of one faculty. It happens because of a community.

Our Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry students, alumni, and faculty made sure every guest was welcomed with elegantly crafted canapés and pink-themed mocktails that felt as considered as the collections themselves. And the soundtrack, every single track original, every single composition created from scratch by our Professional Recording Arts students Devon Curtis and Camilo Rodriguez, guided by their faculty, gave each collection its own sonic identity. One story. One sound. Built from the ground up.

Fashion. Culinary Arts. Professional Recording Arts. At LaSalle College Vancouver, we call this cross-collaboration. Signature Show 2026 was its finest hour.

A woman wearing sunglasses and a chef's jacket prepares red drinks with fruit and straws at an event.
Two women holding red drinks stand under a white umbrella in front of a bar with more beverages. The woman on the right wears a white jacket and a VIP pass.

More Than a Guest — Leeland Mitchell

Every great show deserves a closing moment that stays with you. Ours came in the form of Leeland Mitchell, winner of Project Runway Canada and one of the most joyful creative forces in Canadian fashion today.

Fashion designer Leeland Mitchell walks the runway with models as the audience applauds. The screen displays his name.

But Leeland's presence went far beyond closing the runway. The day before the show, he joined us for a special edition of The Masters Mix — our series that brings bold industry leaders to campus for exclusive talks and inspiration with our students. He spoke candidly, generously, and with the kind of honesty that only someone who has truly lived the industry can offer. His message was simple but powerful: making fashion fun again.

And on show night, he was right there with our designers backstage, sharing the moment, the nerves, and the excitement, and guiding our students through one of the most important nights of their creative paths. That kind of presence is something no classroom can replicate.

Three people stand in a hallway with clothes racks on the left and images on the wall to the right. The person on the left wears a black dress, the middle person wears a cap and black polo shirt, and the person on the right wears a black outfit.

He closed the runway with a collection that reminded the room why fashion, at its core, should be fun. The audience left smiling. And wanting more.

Which, honestly, is exactly the point.

A model walks the runway in a spectacular golden dragon-shaped dress, featuring white feathers and striking details.
A smiling woman in a red tartan dress adorned with white flowers, featuring a bagpipe-like accessory on her back, poses on a runway.
A male model walks down the runway in a punk rock outfit featuring a vest, yellow plaid pants, and silver accessories.

Only the Beginning

Signature Show 2026 had the perfect home. Our brand-new Vancouver campus — BC's premier creative hub, opened in 2025 — provided the backdrop for a night that felt as considered and intentional as the collections themselves. A space built for exactly this kind of moment.

A female model showcases a long, shimmering gold gown with a thigh-high slit, walking down a runway in front of a seated audience.

And while our Fashion Design students have long been making their mark on Vancouver's creative scene, Signature Show 2026 marked something new. The first time this celebrated show, known across the LCI network for over a decade, came to life right here, on our own runway, on our own campus.

That is worth remembering. And worth building on.

One first edition down. Many more to come.

See you next year.