Toronto is a major city, home to millions, and widely considered a land of opportunity. It hosts numerous higher education institutions, companies, business centres, and more. Today, we’re focusing on a renowned Canadian designer who also launched her career from this metropolis. Learn more about Lesley Hampton’s life and work on torontonka.com.
About the Designer
The future designer was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. In her youth, Lesley also lived in Calgary, Yellowknife, Australia, and Indonesia. She pursued her higher education at the University of Toronto, where she studied art. She then gained her fashion qualifications at George Brown College.
Lesley began her design career at the age of 22 in 2016. Hampton was in her first year of college when she created her first collection. Notably, it was shown at Vancouver Fashion Week and later featured on Vogue Runway.
In 2017, Lesley Hampton presented her fall/winter show, which included Adrianne Haslet, who tragically lost her leg during the Boston Marathon bombing. The show also featured five plus-size models and a model with albinism. Two years later, Lesley became the first designer in over a decade to present an all-Indigenous cast of models at Toronto Fashion Week.
Additionally, Hampton designed the dress worn by Mrs. Universe 2019, Ashley Callingbull-Burnham. The gown received mixed reviews; while it faced some criticism, it also garnered significant praise. In 2022, one of her collections was showcased at the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival in Toronto. Lesley has also participated in London Fashion Week and the Santa Fe Indian Market.
Key Themes in Lesley Hampton’s Designs
The Canadian designer quickly gained popularity in Toronto and beyond Canada’s borders. Lesley Hampton has a unique, sophisticated taste, and her core design principles focus on the following:
- Body Positivity. Hampton’s brand focuses on representing diverse body types, sizes, and skin colours. This is why her collections feature models of various sizes, ethnicities, and backgrounds.
- Mental Health Awareness. The designer explores the connection between mental health and clothing. Lesley believes that because people interact with clothing daily, their mental state and body image are deeply connected to these experiences.
- Authentic Indigenous Representation. In her work, Hampton aims to dismantle stereotypes and showcase the multifaceted nature of Indigenous peoples. The designer uses her brand to explore socio-cultural issues. She blends her Indigenous heritage with international experience to create a brand that is both authentic and universal.
- Inclusivity. Hampton strives for her brand to be inclusive, ensuring her clothing can be worn by people of all appearances and types.
Notably, the designer established her own scholarship, awarding $10,000 to an Indigenous student passionate about arts and culture with connections to the Ontario region. Additionally, Lesley was a guest judge on an episode of the third season of Canada’s Drag Race. The designer has also delivered lectures at the Parsons School of Design in New York and Toronto Metropolitan University.
This offers a glimpse into the biography of designer Lesley Hampton, who has gained worldwide recognition for her work. We hope this material was informative and that you learned more about this notable Toronto personality.
What do you think of Lesley Hampton’s designs? We look forward to your comments on social media.