Kirk Pickersgill

 Designer, Greta Constantine. Toronto
It’s no secret that the Greta Constantine boys are uber-talented. I mean, remember their Danier collab, SKIN? (See: here.) Today, we get inside the closet of Kirk Pickersgill, one-half of the Canadian design duo- and man, talk about sporting what you’re sewing. Aside from his massive Converse collection, Pickersgill’s closet is stacked with key pieces from their menswear line, Ezra Constantine. And we don’t blame him! After working in womenswear for a while, (including stints at DSquared2 and Neil Barrett) Pickersgill’s foray into menswear seemed second nature. Before joining forces with friend-turned-design partner, Stephen Wong, Pickersgill worked as a stylist in Milan – and even guest taught classes at the renowned Istituto Marangoni. Now there’s a guy you want to learn from! His slightly over-the-top (okay, very over-the-top) Ann D feather vest certainly ruffled our feathers… in the best way possible, of course. And with Halloween just around the corner, we can only hope he doesn’t chicken out (no pun intended!) again. It’s pieces like this (and that Jil Sander floral button up) that make our job just a little bit better. Pickersgill’s signature specs and hat allow him to be spotted from miles away, but it’s his quirky style—complete with leopard, studded Loubs, nonetheless—that make him stand out in the crowd. As long as he doesn’t bust out the Prada creepers anymore—we know, we love them, too, but they clearly caught on and had their moment—Pickersgill will continue to shine. Don’t fret, Kirk; There’s one “accessory” we can guarantee no one will be able to copy: your most prized pooch, Lux.
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Kirk Pickersgill (left in photo) and Stephen Wong are the duo behind smouldering start-up Toronto label Greta Constantine. But if hyperbole is the lubricant that keeps the fashion machine running, these two are reluctant to ride the buzz.

"Until you put your signature on the dotted line, only then you know things are for sure," says Pickersgill, 40. "Or, as they say in Jamaica, don't put your goat's mouth all over it. We are superstitious that way!"

The two will say this about 2008: A major Canadian accessories chain has broached the possibility of collaborating on a collection – a page taken out of the handbook of the successful partnerships between H&M and designers. And the two are considering staging their next runway show amid the brighter lights of New York Fashion Week.

While Greta Constantine is now sold in Toronto (exclusively at Holt Renfrew's World Design Lab), L.A. and New York, an influential showroom in New York has approached them about representation, which could open up the global market.

The label is a pairing of the names of Wong's mother and Pickersgill's grandfather. Since last year's debut at L'Oréal Fashion Week, the two have been dubbed "jersey boys of Toronto" for the sensuous, slinky jersey they use for their collections.

Among the many fans, count Nelly Furtado, who wears GC in her latest video. Hilary Duff was photographed in one of their gowns for the September cover of Fashion magazine – a spot often reserved for mega-labels like Gucci, especially when the cover girl is a celebrity.

"I think they immediately brought an international flavour and hipness to Canada," says the magazine's fashion director, Susie Sheffman. "Their references are modern, chic and global, and their vision is strong and confident."

Wong and Pickersgill became fast friends while neighbours on Queen St. W. in the early '90s. Pickersgill went to work with Dsquared in Milan, and Wong sharpened his skills with local designer Susan Dicks.

Still, they started designing the line last year with faxes, MSN chat and phone calls. "Some people say twins have their own language," says Wong, 38. "We have our own, except it's fashion.."

But now Pickersgill has moved back to Toronto. And Wong has quit his job to focus on their label. The spring collection from Greta Constantine features glamorous bodysuits and draped goddess gowns – in that signature jersey.

http://gretaconstantine.com/about.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMIt1cq3hgc