Toronto Artist Spolight: Talented Risk Taker with a Heart of Gold!

Canadian Fashion Designer Tanya Theberge Profile

Alexander McQueen once stated "You never move forward if you play it safe."  He could've been talking about the beautiful and talented Toronto fashion designer Tanya Theberge, who has been taking chances all her life. Tanya, a mother of two boys and a local entrepreneur, counts Alexander McQueen as just one of her many inspirations as she works to launch her debut haute couture collection showing at Fashion Art Toronto (F.A.T.) this April.

I first met Tanya at her final dress fitting as a finalist for the Toronto Fashion Incubator's New Labels Sponge Bob Dress competition last May. We hit it off right away. I loved her passion and love for fashion and the attention to detail she gives her designs.

Ruby Macaw Bikini by Theberg Custom Suits

Final Sponge Bob Haute Couture Dress at T.F.I. New Label's Fashion Show

Tanya grew up in Calgary and traveled with her military family across the country and across the ocean to Germany, before they settled back home in Calgary. When her first son was two years old, she picked up and moved to Vancouver and worked at growing her bespoke swimwear company, Theberge Custom Suits. In 2011, Tanya moved her own family across the country to Toronto to focus on starting her hatue couture company. After a few years of research and study in Toronto and in Paris, France, and giving birth to her second child, Tanya started her company La FemmeTheBerge.

Tanya Theberg and Melanie.Ps backstage at T.F.I.'s New Labels Fashion Show

I asked Tanya why she decided to take the risk of starting a new fashion line and venture and she simply answered "My heart burns for creating couture. After eight years of running my bespoke swimwear company, I needed to take a moment, examine the woman I am and express it by the creation of this (debut) collection. And I can't ignore my heart any longer."

Fashion Drawing by Tanya Theberge

P.s!: Tanya has started a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for materials for her debut collection at F.A.T. with some beautiful perks for contributors. She has also partnered with Hearts of Gold, a charity that helps impoverished women and children in Ecuador, whom she will be donating some of her crowdfunding contributions. Please visit Tanya Theberge Indigogo crowdfunding page for more details and to contribute!

P.s,

Melanie!