עוד על Christopher
Trained in Milan at legendary Istituto Marangoni, Christopher Bates is an intrepid Canadian designer achieving a meteoric rise in the fashion industry. His eponymous menswear line is gaining traction with retailers, consumers, media, stylists, and celebrities. Since he launched his brand he has been selling to leading Canadian retailers including Harry Rosen and Browns.
In 2009, Bates was featured as one of the top six leading menswear designers in Canada by Sharp Magazine. In 2012, he was selected as the only menswear designer in the Mercedes-Benz StartUp Program and was awarded with a sponsored show at Toronto Fashion Week. In 2014, he was included in Canada’s Top 100 Most Influential People (Alberta Youth Congress). He was also nominated for the 2014 and 2015 Notable Award for Fashion in Canada (Notable.ca) and the 2015 and 2016 Canadian Menswear Designer of the Year Award (CAFA).
Bates has garnered significant local, national and international press including: L’Uomo Vogue Italia, Women's Wear Daily, Forbes, GQ Brazil, Monocle, Elle, Fashion, SCHÖN!, Hello!, Huffington Post, and Flare etc.
Celebrities who have worn his line include: NBA star DeMarre Carrol, Executive Producer Gary Michael Walters, CBC's Ron MacLean, Howie-D of the Backstreet Boys, bands: Marianas Trench, Walk Off The Earth, and Eleven Past One, actors: John Boyega, Greg Bryk, Ramin Karimloo, Kristopher Higgins, Charlie Carrick, Jordan Weller, Tygh Runyan, and Craig Olejnik.
Bates’ unique style signature evolves from the following elements: contemporary tailoring, stylish fabrics and trims, clever details, quality construction, a tasteful colour palette with injections of boldness, and a unique blend of Italian and Scandinavian influences. He designs quality, lifestyle-oriented pieces with a distinctly European flair. Focusing on modern sportswear and eveningwear, his dashing urban looks are perfectly suited for evening, weekend, and transition wear. His inspirations are diverse and include: living, studying and travelling in Europe, anatomy, architecture, geometry, Depeche Mode, and style icons, such as James Bond.
Bates designs for dynamic, stylish individuals who possess a cultivated appreciation of designer fashion and a sense of adventure in their life and dress. The line is perfect for confident men in their prime who want to stand out from the crowd. Born and raised in Canada, trained in Milan and inspired by the jet-set lifestyle, his approach to design is truly global and his line appeals to the growing numbers of fashion-savvy men in cosmopolitan cities around the world.
In November of 2014 Bates opened a design studio and showroom in Milan to expand the business internationally and to work closely with leading Italian mills and manufacturers. His line is now proudly designed and produced in Italy. His footwear collection is available across Canada at Browns and Harry Rosen. Each pair is handmade in Italy from the finest calf leather, suede, python, iguana, and stamped-crocodile.
In addition to his ready-to-wear collections Bates also designs and produces corporate uniforms. Holt Renfrew’s concierges and doorpersons are all outfitted in his designs. He is also designing the new uniforms for Air Canada. His outfits will be worn by 28,000 employees including pilots, first officers, flight attendants, airport agents, and concierges... “I am very appreciative and proud to have you working with us. You have produced beautiful work to date, and I have confidence this project is going to be wonderfully successful” (Craig Landry, Vice President, Marketing, Air Canada).
His ultimate goal is to create a leading international designer fashion brand.