Comrags founders Joyce Gunhouse (left) and Judy Cornish in 1983.Kint Quon/Handout
Turning 35 is a major milestone in any industry, but especially in Canadian fashion, and it’s one that Toronto-based women’s-wear label Comrags is celebrating this year. Founded in 1983 by Judy Cornish and Joyce Gunhouse, Comrags has become one of the country’s most respected independent brands, beloved by a loyal group of customers who have followed the duo for their three-and-a-half decade run.
Cornish and Gunhouse met while studying fashion at what was then called Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. “We’re lucky we started when we did because it was really grassroots. There was a real coming together of creative energy for the sake of creativity,” says Cornish. Early on, they organized fashion shows at bars and nightclubs in the city, including one at Voodoo, a spot on St. Joseph Street. “We’d like to say we pulled it off but it really was a disaster,” says Gunhouse. “The power went off and things like that, but the response was so great. I don’t think we’ve ever felt that euphoria that we felt afterward.”
Comrags’ vintage-inspired aesthetic caught on, and after wholesaling for several years, in 1997, the duo opened a boutique on Queen Street West, before relocating north to Dundas. Their entire collection is produced in the studio above the boutique.
In part, Cornish and Gunhouse owe their success to marching to the beat of their own drum. The two pay little attention to the trends of the moment and instead find inspiration in the world around them. In the past, they have presented their collections on the runways of Toronto Fashion Week, but typically follow a production schedule that Cornish describes as “totally ours.” Their fall 2018 collection, for example, was being photographed at the end of June. “We’ve always been able to evolve and adapt. There are certain things that we like to do the same way we did when we started, but we’re always just trying to figure out every season what the best way is,” says Gunhouse.
Over the years, Gunhouse and Cornish have developed a signature aesthetic that’s warm, timeless, playful and feminine without any fussiness. For spring 2018, that includes a handful of pieces made of fabric in a mustard-coloured splattered print, and dresses in denim, florals and gingham. Cornish recalls recently shopping in a vintage store where the salesperson was wearing a Comrags dress that had belonged to her mother. “For them to love something that they’ve had for 20 years and for it to be as valuable today as it was when they bought them, that’s rewarding and surprising,” says Gunhouse.
Given all of the changes in both the fashion industry and media over the past 35 years, Cornish and Gunhouse say what they miss most from those early years is engaging in meaningful dialogue with fashion critics. Instead, they now prioritize engaging face-to-face with their clients. “We have more ideas than we have time for,” says Gunhouse.
STYLE HAPPENINGS
Sustainable luxury denim brand and two-time Canadian Arts & Fashion winner Triarchy has a new pop-up at Holt Renfrew in Calgary. From June 21 to 24, find the collection as part of the H Project, which supports labels known for their social and environmental consciousness. Designers Adam and Ania Taubenfligel will be in attendance. For more information, visit holtrenfrew.com
Canadian-born MAC Cosmetics has announced a new partnership with Sephora. Beginning this fall, an assortment of MAC’s best sellers will be available online at Sephora.ca.
The 10th anniversary of PARKSHOW is taking place on June 23 in Calgary. Held on the George C. King Bridge, this immersive fashion show is set to be the organization’s largest undertaking yet, and includes a market running June 23 and 24. For more information, visit ourparkonline.com.
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