From Classroom to Catwalk: Celebrating Five Emerging Fashion Designers in Victoria, BC

Pacific Design Academy / Sundance College Fashion Show | October 23, 2026 | Victoria, BC

There’s something pretty special about watching people you’ve taught step into the spotlight and showcase their creativity.

On Friday, October 23, 2026, I had the pleasure of photographing a fabulous fashion show featuring five incredibly talented emerging designers from Pacific Design Academy, now part of Sundance College, here in Victoria, British Columbia.

But this wasn’t just another fashion photography assignment for me.

All five designers had recently been students in my Fashion Photography course at Pacific Design Academy!

During our seven weeks together, we’d explored the creative and technical sides of fashion photography, from lighting and composition to working with models and telling stories through images.

Now, instead of working with them in a classroom, I was watching their own fashion designs come to life on the runway.

And what a fantastic afternoon it was!

Five Designers, Five Creative Visions

One of the things I love about fashion photography is how differently designers approach their work.

The clothing, colours, fabrics, styling and movement all contribute to the story being told. As a photographer, my job is to capture those details while also conveying the energy and personality of the models wearing the designs.

Friday’s show featured five very different collections, each reflecting its designer’s individual creativity and vision.

Here’s a closer look at their work!

Aaliyah Shehzad: Contemporary Style with Playful Details

Aaliyah Shehzad presented a wonderfully varied collection that combined contemporary silhouettes, layered textures and rich colours with playful design details.

Navy blue, burgundy, forest green and plaid patterns appeared throughout the collection, creating a cohesive visual style while allowing each outfit to maintain its own personality.

I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the different silhouettes, from a long, elegant black dress to shorter skirts, cropped tops and relaxed trousers.

One standout look paired a navy and green plaid skirt with a contrasting top featuring sheer fabric, while another combined a burgundy pleated skirt with a coordinated top and tall black boots.

The collection struck a lovely balance between structured garments and softer, more flowing materials.

From behind the camera, it was especially enjoyable to capture how the different fabrics moved as the models walked and posed.

Having worked with Aaliyah in the classroom, it was fantastic seeing her creativity showcased on the runway.

Designer: Aaliyah Shehzad
Instagram: @ailiyah_ash

 

Alyra Kostiuck: Relaxed Streetwear with a Creative Twist

Alyra Kostiuck brought a relaxed, unconventional energy to the runway with a collection blending contemporary streetwear, workwear influences and playful styling.

Oversized trousers, patchwork details, utility-inspired garments and contrasting fabrics gave the collection a distinctive, handcrafted personality.

I particularly enjoyed the navy trousers featuring contrasting fabric patches and the brown overall-style outfit, which brought a practical, workwear-inspired element to the collection.

Another memorable look paired wide-leg, light blue trousers with red accents, a dark sleeveless top and a straw cowboy hat!

There was also a fun contrast between traditional elements, such as a shirt and tie, and more casual, contemporary pieces.

What I appreciated most about Alyra’s collection was its individuality. Each outfit offered something different while maintaining a relaxed and creative aesthetic.

From a photographer’s perspective, the oversized silhouettes, interesting textures and varied styling created plenty of visual interest as the models moved across the stage.

It was wonderful seeing Alyra’s designs come to life!

Designer: Alyra Kostiuck
Instagram: @neonical_succulent

 

Emmi Tombs: Vintage Inspiration Meets Contemporary Fashion

Emmi Tombs presented a collection that beautifully blended vintage-inspired fashion with contemporary creativity.

Rich burgundy, mustard plaid, sage green, navy and warm neutral tones appeared throughout the collection, connecting a wonderful variety of silhouettes and styles.

One of my favourite pieces was a mustard plaid dress with an oversized collar, which had a distinctly retro charm.

The collection also featured cropped tops, relaxed wide-leg trousers, asymmetrical skirts and some particularly interesting necklines.

One striking outfit paired a burgundy skirt with a contrasting black top and a cape-like sage-green collar. Another featured a dramatic, voluminous sheer skirt, creating a completely different silhouette from the more relaxed pieces.

There was a lovely balance between structured garments and softer materials, with thoughtful details adding personality to each design.

As a photographer, I’m always drawn to interesting shapes, movement and contrasting textures. Emmi’s collection offered plenty of those elements!

It was fantastic to see another of my former photography students confidently presenting her own creative work.

Designer: Emmi Tombs
Instagram: @emmi.tombs

 

Nova Curry-Pagadouan: Bold Prints and Fearless Fashion

Nova Curry-Pagadouan certainly brought some attitude to the runway!

Her collection was bold, playful and wonderfully expressive, featuring striking animal prints, dramatic textures and vibrant colour combinations.

Leopard and zebra patterns appeared prominently throughout the designs, complemented by black lace, sheer fabrics and eye-catching accents of hot pink, orange and electric blue.

The collection featured cropped tops, fitted shorts, skirts and sheer trousers, combined with statement accessories including oversized belt buckles and tall boots.

One of my favourite aspects of Nova’s collection was the contrast between materials. Delicate lace appeared alongside bold animal prints, while vibrant colours added even more energy and personality to the individual outfits.

The styling brought together elements of glamour, streetwear and lingerie-inspired fashion, creating a distinctive runway aesthetic.

From behind the camera, these designs were particularly fun to photograph. Strong patterns, contrasting textures and confident runway posing made for some memorable images.

Nova’s collection certainly made an impression!

And once again, it was a pleasure watching one of my former students showcase such a distinctive creative vision.

Designer: Nova Curry-Pagadouan
Instagram: @sequoia.fashion

 

Delaney Lewis: Dramatic Contrasts and Elegant Details

Delaney Lewis brought a striking collection to the runway, combining rich burgundy, vibrant red and soft ivory tones with dramatic silhouettes and thoughtful design details.

What immediately caught my attention was the strong use of contrasting colours and geometric shapes.

Bold red panels appeared on flowing trousers, while asymmetrical fabric accents added movement and personality to several outfits.

The collection also featured beautiful contrasts between structured and softer elements, from fitted bodices and corset-inspired designs to flowing dresses and delicate sheer skirts.

One particularly memorable look featured a white shirt with dramatic red sleeve accents, paired with black trousers incorporating bold red geometric panels.

It was a fantastic combination of tailored styling and creative expression.

I also loved the coordinated red and ivory outfits, where the repeated colours and shapes helped connect the individual designs.

From behind the camera, Delaney’s collection was especially enjoyable to photograph. The rich colours stood out beautifully against the dark stage, while the flowing fabrics and distinctive silhouettes came alive as the models moved.

Having taught Delaney photography earlier this year, it was wonderful to see her own creative vision take centre stage.

A fantastic collection and a memorable runway presentation!

Designer: Delaney Lewis
Instagram: @delayneylewis05

 

Behind the Camera: Photographing the Fashion Show

Fashion show photography is quite different from my usual studio fashion sessions.

In the studio, I can control the lighting, direct the models, adjust my camera position and take the time needed to create a particular image.

At a runway show, things move quickly!

The lighting can be challenging, models are constantly moving, and you’ve often got just a few seconds to capture the perfect pose.

For this show, I photographed each collection while also setting up a stationary camera to record the runway walks in 4K video.

This allowed me to create individual videos for each designer, combining actual runway footage with some of my favourite still photographs.

I love how the two formats complement each other.

Video captures the movement, energy and atmosphere of the show, while photography allows us to appreciate individual moments, garment details and expressions.

And, of course, having five completely different collections to photograph made the afternoon even more enjoyable!

From Teaching Photography to Photographing Their Designs

Perhaps my favourite part of the afternoon was the personal connection.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of teaching these five students Fashion Photography at Pacific Design Academy.

During our seven weeks together, we explored photography from both creative and technical perspectives, helping students understand how fashion can be presented visually.

As designers, understanding photography is an incredibly useful skill.

Whether they’re creating images for a portfolio, promoting a clothing collection or collaborating with professional photographers, visual storytelling is an important part of the fashion industry.

Seeing all five students presenting their own designs was a wonderful full-circle moment.

And I couldn’t resist taking plenty of photographs!

The Creative Team Behind the Fashion Show

A successful fashion show is about much more than the clothing.

It takes a talented team of designers, models, hairstylists, makeup artists and organizers to bring everything together.

Friday’s show was a wonderful example of that collaboration, and I’d love to recognize the creative people who helped make the afternoon such a success.

Fashion Designers

• Aaliyah Shehzad | @ailiyah_ash
• Alyra Kostiuck | @neonical_succulent
• Emmi Tombs | @emmi.tombs
• Nova Curry-Pagadouan | @sequoia.fashion
• Delaney Lewis | @delayneylewis05

Makeup Artists

A big thank you to the makeup team for helping bring the runway looks to life!

@willowxmua
@ladymeganbeauty

Hair Stylists

The hair team played an important role in completing each designer’s vision.

@hairhobbsey
@aoevictoria
@parveengill8
@hairbyymaddie_
@jamieshairstyles

Runway Models

And, of course, a huge thank you to the models who brought the collections to life with their runway walks, poses and personality!

@active_slayer
@ma.89.laine
@emilyxvrs
@samblundell_modeling
@angelatimms93
@le4nd4w
@not_in_the_pink_
@tia.landry
@lilyyyyyyyf
@hernameis_madison
@iamsequoiabridges
@jaycinecross_model

Thank you to everyone involved, including the people working behind the scenes to organize and coordinate the event.

Your contributions helped make it such an enjoyable afternoon!

Celebrating Victoria’s Emerging Creative Talent

Victoria has a wonderful creative community, and events like this are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the people helping shape its future.

Congratulations to Aaliyah Shehzad, Alyra Kostiuck, Emmi Tombs, Nova Curry-Pagadouan and Delaney Lewis on showcasing your fashion collections.

It was a pleasure having you in my photography class and an absolute delight photographing your work on the runway.

I hope these photographs and videos provide a lasting record of all your hard work, creativity and accomplishments.

What a fabulous afternoon!

Fashion Photography in Victoria, BC

I’m Timothy West, a Victoria-based commercial, portrait and fashion photographer.

I work with models, fashion designers, creative professionals and local businesses to create photographs that tell stories and showcase their work.

Whether it’s a fashion editorial, runway event, model portfolio or creative studio session, I love collaborating with people who have a passion for creating something special.

If you’re a fashion designer, model or creative professional looking to collaborate on a photography project in Victoria, I’d love to hear from you!

Photography & Video: Timothy West Photography
Website: https://www.timothywest.com
Instagram: @timothywestphoto

Fashion Show Photography | October 23, 2026 | Victoria, British Columbia