On September 16, the Cashmere Collection returns for its 22nd year, transforming the runway into a celebration of fashion, culture, and philanthropy. This year’s theme, Tapestry of the North, pays tribute to Canada’s rich cultural mosaic, weaving together stories from coast to coast. Two Vancouver-based designers, Shauna Griffiths and Bahar Kianpour, will showcase their visions using Cashmere UltraLuxe bathroom tissue—a material both soft and strong, and symbolic of the resilience of women living with and beyond breast cancer.
With more than 84 women in Canada hearing the words “you have breast cancer” every day, the show continues its tradition of raising awareness while spotlighting extraordinary Canadian talent. For Griffiths and Kianpour, the opportunity is deeply personal, artistic, and powerful.
Shauna Griffiths: Wind Walker
For Griffiths, the theme immediately called her home. “When I first heard Tapestry of the North, my heart immediately went to my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador,” she shares. “The raw beauty of the land; the mountains, the ocean wind, the sense of vastness and isolation — it felt deeply personal and creatively charged.”
Her gown, titled Wind Walker, symbolizes a woman journeying through the northern landscape. Flowing tendrils at the hem echo the untamed winds of the Atlantic, while jagged peaks rising from the back of the gown pay tribute to Vancouver’s Lions Mountains. “These peaks also honour my twin sisters — strong, steady forces in my life who have always grounded me.”
The challenge of working with bathroom tissue became part of the storytelling itself. Griffiths developed custom embossing techniques to etch swirling wind motifs into the fabric. “There’s a unique intimacy in working with a material as humble as bathroom tissue. It forces you to slow down, be gentle, and truly listen to how the fabric wants to behave.”
For Griffiths, the gown is more than fashion: it’s a message. “Wind Walker is my love letter to women who move through the world with grace and grit, even in the face of difficulty. So many women walk through storms we never see, with strength that doesn’t always announce itself. This dress is for them.”
Bahar Kianpour: A Personal Tribute
For Kianpour, the project resonates on both a creative and emotional level. “This year’s Tapestry of the North means a lot to me as it’s about connection—bringing together stories, emotions, and inspiration into one design. It’s also special because this campaign supports such an important cause, breast cancer awareness, and I feel honoured to use my creativity to give back in this way.”
Her Vancouver roots and the city’s cultural mosaic shaped her design. “Living here has shown me how powerful diversity can be in design, and that’s something I tried to reflect in my piece.”
The material itself proved a challenge—one that sparked innovation. “The biggest challenge for me was figuring out how to give it strength and structure while still keeping the softness. At the same time, that challenge pushed me to experiment more with layering, textures, and techniques I might not have tried otherwise.”
Kianpour’s design also carries deep personal meaning. “This cause is very close to my heart as I lost my grandmother to breast cancer, and my aunt is a breast cancer survivor. Before creating my design, I even asked my aunt if she was comfortable with me approaching this concept, and she gave me her full support. I wanted my design to carry a story of pain, healing, and resilience, to show how something so difficult can still turn into strength and beauty.”
More Than Fashion
Both designers agree that the Cashmere Collection proves fashion can spark meaningful dialogue. “Fashion is more than fabric, it is storytelling,” Griffiths reflects. “When done with intention, fashion can make people feel something in a way that statistics and headlines can’t.”
Kianpour echoes the sentiment: “Even though each of us has our own story and vision, being in this kind of space creates a sense of connection and support, which I think makes the whole showcase stronger.”
As the 2025 Cashmere Collection takes the runway, these Vancouver designers remind us that fashion is not only about beauty, but also about resilience, remembrance, and hope. —Noa Nichol
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