Our Time at Fat Fashion Fair in Calgary

This May, Origami Customs had the absolute honour of being part of something groundbreaking: the first-ever Fat Fashion Fair in Calgary. I’ve done a few fashion events in my life now, but this one? This one was different. It wasn’t just a runway show—it was a love letter to fat joy, fat community, and the radical power of showing up exactly as you are.

To make it even more special, my partner Elio and I flew out from Montreal and turned it into a little road trip/birthday/adventure combo. We had no team with us—just the two of us, some packed luggage, and a whole lot of adventure.

Banff Adventures and the Birth of a Collection

We arrived in Alberta a few days early to celebrate my birthday (which was on the day of the show, May 3rd!) and headed straight into the mountains. Banff is a place I’ve always wanted to explore, and since our new swim collection was literally named after mountains in the area, it felt poetic to spend time there before the show.

We spent three days wandering around Banff, getting absolutely gobsmacked by the beauty of it all. And I’m from Victoria—I know mountains! But these ones had me pulling over on the side of the highway to gawk. Every peak, every twist in the road felt like a painting.

We even shot the new Banff Collection product photos on a hiking trail. Elio and I were freezing (classic Canadian spring), but it was worth every shiver. Seeing the swimwear framed by these ancient, powerful landscapes made the collection come alive in a whole new way. This line was meant to remind folks that their bodies belong in nature—and there’s no better place to shout that from the mountaintops than, well, literal mountaintops.

Family Reunions and Full-Circle Moments

This trip also brought something deeply personal—my first time seeing my aunt and cousin in 21 years. Having them meet my partner and being able to show them what I’ve built with Origami Customs meant so much. I don’t always get to share these moments with family, especially across such distance, so it felt really meaningful to have them there.

After a beautiful (although whirlwind!) mini vacation, we hopped in the car to continue the lightning pace and headed to Fat Fashion Fair

What is Fat Fashion Fair?

Fat Fashion Fair was created by Adania, a one-woman powerhouse and plus-sized commercial model who poured her whole heart into making this event happen. It was Calgary’s first fat liberation convention—and it hit all the right notes.

The weekend was a mix of fashion, panels, artist showcases, and a marketplace full of fat-positive creators. It had sliding scale tickets (because access matters), a beautiful venue, and thoughtful touches at every turn.

From the red carpet welcome to the live transcription at panels, everything was built with the community in mind. It was so clear that this wasn’t about checking boxes or putting on a show for mainstream media. It was about us. Fat folks, queer folks, gender-diverse folks, coming together to learn, celebrate, and feel beautiful.

Finding Chosen Family in Calgary

Adania even invited Elio and me to stay in her home during the event—a gesture that meant the world to us. And in a funny twist of fate, her partner Andrew shares my birthday! So we ended the runway show on May 3rd by being serenaded with Happy Birthday by the entire event crowd, after a group dinner of Mexican food and cheesecake. If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be celebrating my birthday with a bunch of strangers-turned-family after a runway show in the Rockies, I wouldn’t have believed you.

A Wild 48 Hours

What we didn’t expect was just how intense those final hours before the show would be. We arrived in Calgary just 48 hours before the event, and had to drive straight to our first and only model fitting, which happened the night before the runway. That’s when we discovered we’d need several alterations—and one full outfit had to be made from scratch!

To add to the chaos, one of our models missed their flight. We were suddenly short a person, and scrambling. But then, by pure magic, a Quebecois influencer stepped in right on the spot to fill in. It was incredible—except for the small detail that she had no outfit yet. I had to throw together a full runway look for her from scratch the day of the show.

Luckily, someone lent me a personal sewing machine, and I spent the entire next day tucked away in the basement doing what I do best—making it work. I was back in my roots: just me, alone in a room, sewing custom swimwear on a non-professional machine. It reminded me of how this all started—using whatever tools I had, relying on resourcefulness and grit, and making things that fit real people beautifully and in real-time.

Speaking Truth to Power: Our Panels

In addition to showing on the runway, Elio and I were both invited to speak on panels during the event.

My Panel: Gender and Size Inclusivity in the Fashion Industry

I co-presented with Martina Carello from Colour Alchemist, a production partner who helps small brands get their designs into the world. We got into the nitty-gritty of size ranges and what it takes to successfully create fashion that supports people outside of traditional sizing charts. 

We also talked about how to shop from brands that align with your values. Is the brand showing bodies like yours? Where and how are their clothes made? Do they allow for customization or show real investment in their community? These are all questions we believe consumers deserve to ask. Our biggest takeaway was to know your body. Know your values. And know that you deserve clothes that feel right for you. 

We’ll share the full panel video and write a blog about everything we talked about in the coming months, but we loved the discussion and share tangible action with the participants of the Fat Fashion Fair.

Elio’s Panel: Beyond the Standard

My partner Elio also spoke on a panel, and it’s always so beautiful to be in partnership with another trans person who’s so aligned with my values and vision. So many of the panels revolved around fat accessibility, and Elio is an architect who specilizes in design that support people with diverse needs. They spoke on a panel with Diana Dimmock about accessibility and design. The theme was that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to inclusion.

They talked about how accessibility needs often clash, and how that doesn’t mean we give up—it means we offer options. Chairs with and without arms. Furniture that accommodates a range of body sizes and access needs. Designs that center dignity over “aesthetic minimalism.” It was one of those conversations that sticks with you, both challenging and affirming at the same time.

The Runway: Closing Out the Show

We were the final designer to walk the runway that night, and it was a moment I won’t forget. We featured eight gorgeous models, each one radiating joy and confidence. (Follow them all on instaram, thay’re all amazing! Alexei, Emily, Jack, Jessica, Jordie, Kimbery B, Kimbery D, Rosi, Sugar Bee, Anna Mae, Mackenzie) 

Our custom soundtrack was mixed by a dear friend DJ Forage, and we projected a short video during our segment—clips of queer joy, last year’s Equality Fashion Week show, and some of our favourite moments from working with our community.

The collection had a loose White Lotus meets queer summer fantasy vibe: tropical prints, floaty kaftans, dramatic scarves, oversized jewelry, and wide-brimmed hats. We even partnered with Emotional Armour, a Montreal-based brand making handcrafted sunglasses. Omar, the designer, is a new friend, and their pieces were the perfect final touch.

It was also such a joy to share the runway with other brands doing incredible work, including Gus Sloan, Magically Mango, and Devon and Lang. Each brought something beautiful, authentic, and inspiring to the show. The whole show felt bold and fun and celebratory—everything we wanted it to be.

Reflections and Takeaways

There’s something truly magical about an event where every detail is designed with fat people in mind. From the runway to the panels to the food and seating—it all said, “You belong here.”

And honestly? That’s what Origami Customs has always been about. We don’t make clothes just to sell them. We make them because we know what it feels like to be left out of fashion. To feel like your body is a problem to be solved, instead of something to celebrate.

Fat Fashion Fair reminded me why we started this brand. Why we keep going even when it’s hard. Why it’s worth showing up again and again for our community.

What’s Next

We’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes from the event, runway clips, and photos of the Banff Collection on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube in the coming weeks—so stay tuned for more joy, more looks, and more love.

Thank you to everyone who made this event what it was. Thank you to the folks who came out, who cheered, who told us their stories. You remind us why we do this work.

And Adania—thank you for dreaming up something this big and beautiful. We’re already dreaming of coming back.