Toronto Fashion Week Fall 2013: DUY

World Mastercard Fashion Week, Day 2, DUY, by Nguyen Duy, fall 2013 collection

DUY fall 2013 collection by Duy Nguyen, winner of Mercedes-Benz Startup program, at World Mastercard Fashion Week. Born in Vietnam and raised in Canada, the designer was chosen by the Mercedes Benz Start-Up program to present his couture-inspired collection Tuesday. He has worked with seasoned Canadian designers such as Kimberley Newport-Mimran of Pink Tartan and Montreal's Marie Saint Pierre, launching his own line in 2001. But it was his French Riviera in the 1980s spring 2013 collection that won him this spot on the World MasterCard runway. Duy Nguyen opened his fall 2013 collection with a dramatic floor-length tuxedo coat with sharp shoulders and a sharp silhouette.

Nguyen's craftsmanship is spectacular. He is a master with cut and fit. He also proved his ability to think in unexpected ways: a sweatshirt material Magic Dress UK evening gown, blue brushed mohair trousers with a deep green leather top. His sharp horizontal knife-pleat dresses and body conscious leather dresses also underscored the designer's knack for precision fit. He is also experimental - a fox fur-trimmed glazed leather jacket, for example, or a metallic tulle gown.