Behind the Image: Realities and Economies of Independent Creative Practices
Apr 22, 2026 | 11:30 AM - 12:20 PMSalle de conférence niveau 2 / Conference Room Level 2
Apr 22, 2026 | 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM
Salle de conférence niveau 2 / Conference Room Level 2
Runways, editorials, campaigns, installations — independent creative practices in Canada are often seen through their final, polished form. What remains largely unseen are the months of invisible labor, the complex web of collaborations, and the economic precarity that shape these projects.
Working across limited budgets, partial or unpaid labor, and constant pressure for visibility, independent designers, stylists, and artists operate within fragile ecosystems. Yet their work generates real economic activity, activates a full creative value chain, and plays a vital role in shaping the country’s cultural identity and international presence.
This panel invites an open conversation about the tension between strong cultural value and structural fragility. How can we better support and recognize these practices? What sustainable models can be imagined?
A necessary dialogue toward more resilient creative infrastructures, in collaboration with LIGNES DE FUITE.
Sonny Thomassin, Project manager & Creative direction — BRAVO
Olivier Vouligny, Fashion Designer
Julia Beauparlant, Fashion designer and Founder — Beautopie
Milan Tanedjikov, Directorr — LIGNES DE FUITE
Lolitta Dandoy, Fashion Journalist
Talk in French