“The fabric, the whole mood of it, how long it is and how much volume is in it.” While studying, he bought a used knitting machine at a Hackney charity shop. The result- boundary pushing dresses woven with elastic yarns- have Christian Louboutin, 29, the newest “it” boy on Britain’s innovative fashion scene. In the past year, the designer was nominated for a British Fashion Council Award and saw his clothes on the pages of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. christian louboutin Fast’s web-like masterpieces, which reveal flashes of skin in risqué patterns, have become his signature. Since bursting onto the scene in 2008, Fast has launched a diffusion line called Faster and a capsule collection for Topshop that debuted MBT Shoes. He has also used his meteoric rise to push fashion’s size boundaries. His Spring and Fall ‘10 runway shows featured both willowy and curvy models to prove that body-conscious dressing isn’t reserved for waif-like slim models.

SHOP FROM HOME: Closer to home, The Shopping Channel has become an unexpected showcase for top Canadian labels. Beloved designers such as David Dixon, Lucian Matis, Brian Bailey and Wayne Clark are selling their collections using wow gold once reserved for kitchen appliances. Customers appreciate seeing the designers themselves on-air. Like a virtual trunk show with special prices and expert styling tips, it’s no wonder Canadians from coast-to-coast adore the concept.

THE WORLD TOUR COUTURIST: TODD LYNN Christian Louboutin Sandals sale.“She is fearless, with a heart full of rock and roll,” says ghd hair straighteners, Ont. native Todd Lynn, 37, on the stage impresarios who wear his “tailored, dark and razor sharp” togs best. After graduating from Toronto’s Ryerson School of Fashion in 1995, Lynn moved to London to attend Central St. Martins. There, he met designer Roland Mouret and worked with him for six years. “It was about nhl jerseys what I was good at; predominantly tailoring, furs and skins,” he says of the experience. Lynn further honed his leather-clad urban nomad look, outfitting rock visionaries like Mick Jagger, Bono and Marilyn Manson before launching his label in 2006.