GQ-worthy cycling threads for men who wouldn’t be caught dead in spandex shorts. ATV apparel for ladies looking to quad in style. Upscale streetwear for short dudes sick of shopping in the children’s section. These are just some of the many innovative ideas that Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s 2013 fashion, design and technology grad class (out of the Chip & Shannon Wilson School of Design) presented at the River Rock Show Theatre on Wednesday (April 17).

Of course, there’s more to designing a fully realized collection than just finding an interesting niche, coming up with cool concepts, or presenting one standout piece. A truly talented designer can deliver a line of clothing that is cohesive, highly wearable, original, and beautiful from start to finish. And while most of these emerging designers delivered the goods, for my money, the following five are the ones to watch out for.

First off, attention must be paid to Linda Lin’s Ombre. This line of super sexy, upscale, UV-protective resort wear really hit the mark on every level. From her gorgeous marine blue, high-low dress to her crisp white, figure-flattering yacht-chic dress pants, every piece was stellar and market-ready. Honestly, cruise-ship apparel never looked so fresh.

Design by Monika Georgieva.

Alfonso Arnold

Then there’s Monika Georgieva. She did the impossible with her sultry line of Maléna lingerie: adding contemporary features without cheapening the classic appeal of her exquisite intimates. Her full-length black slip, for example, has all the old Hollywood glamour of a Lana Turner dress, but the diamond-shape cutout front panel added a sexed-up, urban twist. This—and all of her other lavish pieces—should be in stores right now. Holt Renfrew buyers, are you reading this?

Meanwhile, Allison Chan’s see. line is made for strong, artistically bent professional women. Chan’s designs are all about statement-making cuts with avant-garde twists, but at the same time these Obakki-bound pieces are also very office-friendly and mindful of the female figure. Her under-bust “intersecting vest”, for instance, is a creative way to cinch in a classic white shirt and still be taken seriously in the boardroom.

And all the hard-core mountain mamas out there should keep an eye out for Brylee Geddis’s chute label. Aesthetically, this functional line of high-performance ski wear strikes the perfect balance between earthy and edgy with a colour palette that's neither too flashy nor too hippy. Highlights of this collection are the adorable navy overalls and the “sick” terra cotta-orange ski jacket. Warning: they may be cute as hell, but both these chute pieces are made with the side-country elements in mind (i.e. posers who just like to look the part need not apply).

Perhaps the most inspiring collection to be showcased on the River Rock runway was Jamileh Pourfouladchi’s Gentle Love collection. Here we have easy-breezy layering pieces that celebrate liberated Persian women. While the silhouettes were traditional, the fabrics were anything but heavy and oppressive. Instead, Pourfouladchi uses light silky fabrics and prints that give a subtle nod to peace and freedom.

Halfway through this uplifting, somewhat politically charged fashion show, the models yanked of their hijabs and the passive music switched gears to Metric’s “Breathing Underwater”. The whole thing made for a very powerful performance. But again, if the clothes weren’t up to par, I wouldn’t be mentioning it. Pourfouladchi’s designs are simply stunning.

Congrats to her and the rest of her classmates for putting on such a seriously stylin’ fashion show.