5 South Asian Models Who Slayed the Ramp at Toronto Fashion Week

It is officially runway season!!! The best fashion districts of the world are coming alive all month, bringing new designs and new faces to the catwalk. We’ve had our eyes glued to the ramps and we’re liking what we’re seeing! (Toronto Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, you hear me?)

Talking about Toronto Fashion Week, this past week, the 6ix came alive with fierce fashion and elegance. Not only were there some beautiful designs walking down the runway, there were also some incredible people! Toronto Fashion Week was unique because not only was there a full South Asian collection by the incredible Mani Jassal being walked down the runway, but we also got to see some badass desis strut their stuff.

[Read Related: Toronto Women’s Fashion Week was all About Simplistic Fashion and Every Woman’s Wardrobe—I Loved it!]

Here’s a list of some of the amazing brown men and women who took part in this year’s TFW.

1. Sukhman Gill

Gill walked for Hayley Elsaesser’s collection of street style athleisure wear. The fun colors and rocking overalls had our eyes glued to this Brown Boy!

 

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TORONTO FASHION WEEK 2018 I had the incredible opportunity to walk for 3 brands last night at #torontofashionweek @tfw which included @hayleyelsaesser @getfreshcompany & @niketoronto and it was probably one of thee most memorable runways thanks to Hayley and @killacon Big shoutoutto @nike for gifting us Nike Airforce kicks to rock at the show & @resetfsn . All in all it’s another show done and dusted and checked off the list, now time for bigger and better things ?? . #fashion #fashiontoronto #tfw #torontofashion #model #modeling #modellife #runwaymodel #runway #yorkville #overalls #sardar #turban #punjabi #sikh #singh #style #streetfashion #fashionblogger #ootd #designer #trend #editorial #catwalk #malemodel #supermodel #fashionweek #mensfashion #menswear

A post shared by Sukhman Gill (@iamsukhmangill) on Sep 6, 2018 at 5:47pm PDT

2. Shreya Patel

This ethereal beauty was drop-dead gorgeous in Jassal’s sari from her exclusive ‘Free Spirit’ collection! Shout out to the Toronto-based designer for also having a full South Asian collection grace the runway!

 

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‘Free Spirit’ Fashion Show Look 22 at @tfw x @resetfsn The Raat Ki Rani Bustier x La Reve Sari . Available to purchase online at www.manijassal.com and at our showroom in #YorkvilleVillage . We offer free worldwide shipping Photo @georgepimentel1 Earrings @aeteedesigns PR @nobadpress Bag @art.clestudio Sari Draped by @vipoositha

A post shared by M A N I J A S S A L (@manikjassal) on Sep 6, 2018 at 11:48am PDT

3. Harjas Singh

Our favorite Brown Boy and stylist is at it again! He rocked Elsaesser’s Clam Dunk collection. Also, congrats to Singh for appearing in an ad with Nordstrom this same week! Keep killin’ it!

 

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Rocking the stage once again at Toronto Fashion Week 2018! @tfw #torontofashionweek Look 1 of 2 from @hayleyelsaesser new SS19 CLAM DUNK Collection! Thank you to @killacon & @hayley_elsaesser for helping me reach goals and break barriers with your amazing brand! #styledbyharj #tfw #fashionweek #hayleyelsaesser #designer #streetwear #streetfashion #runway #catwalk #model #modellife #tracksuit #breakingbarriers

A post shared by Harjas Singh (@styledbyharj) on Sep 7, 2018 at 2:41pm PDT

4. Sandy Gill

Style influencer, The Sandy Lion, slayed in her very first runway walk and showed us that there is no height limit on fierceness!

 

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I was told I was too short to be on a runway, and that stuck with me for a long time. This changed when I started collaborating with people who shared my values of #INCLUSIVITY AND #REPRESENTATION. I had the honour to walk the runway in #TorontoFashionWeek @tfw for one of my favourite artists/human beings @hayleyelsaesser. I’m not a model, and I’ve never had any training walking a catwalk, and that makes this experience even more special, getting to do it wearing such a bold and inclusive brand like Hayley’s. Not only do her clothes embody messages of empowerment, but so did all of the models she choose to represent. I shared the runway with beautiful people of every size, shape, ethnicity, ability, orientation and belief, and that felt very empowering. I want to give Hayley kudos for breaking barriers and throwing the rules out the window when it comes to traditional fashion shows, but I also want to emphasis, her show was the most accurate representation of our beautiful and diverse city of #Toronto, and for me that’s the most important reason for us to even have a Fashion week. I want to shoutout our partners at @getfreshcompany and of course @nike for seeing and supporting this daring vision, on an international level with Kaepernick, and locally, supporting artists like Hayley on our journeys. Thank you for the steady reminder to keep breaking the rules and explore new territory. ?? thank you @killacon for ALWAYS having my back ??

A post shared by TheSandyLion (@thesandylion) on Sep 6, 2018 at 11:11am PDT

5. Kiran Rai

Our girl, Rai, AKA Kay Ray, was a goddess walking as the showstopper for her friend Jassal. She had heads turning and for all the right reasons.

 

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it’s fashion people!!!!!!!! @manikjassal ph: tian xiao zhang

A post shared by Kiran Rai (@kay__ray) on Sep 6, 2018 at 5:41pm PDT

Seeing all of these incredible faces at Toronto Fashion Week is a real win for representation of South Asians in the fashion industry. We can’t wait for next year’s shows!