Meet the Canadian Designers Dressing Today’s Biggest Stars

In an industry ruled by viral moments, celebrity endorsements are a powerful currency. For Canadian designers outside the major fashion capitals, A-list exposure is all the more impactful—and harder to attain.

Here, three homegrown brands with high-profile followings reflect on their journeys to success.

The Stage Sartorialist

Evan Clayton

There have been a few key moments throughout Evan Clayton’s 13-year career in which the designer felt that he had finally, truly made it. Chief among them? His mother’s excitement upon learning that he had dressed a celebrity even she recognized—“the ‘Call Me Maybe’ girl!” To be fair, at that point, the Vancouver-based designer had already become a favourite among performer types. Weaving together sharp corsetry, sci-fi metallics and dramatic silhouettes, his fantastical aesthetic has caught the eye of entertainers like Kali Uchis, Doja Cat and, to his mom’s delight, Carly Rae Jepsen.

As a young designer, Clayton honed this imaginative spirit in the drag community—a space he’s now been a part of for nearly 15 years. What started as a hobby—making outfits for himself and friends—evolved into a career designing for stage talent. Early exposure came from Canada’s Drag Race, where friends turned contestants Venus and The Girlfriend Experience wore his designs. But his first major placement was with singer Allie X, whom he dressed in 2019 after reaching out on a whim as a longtime fan. (He later used the same cold-email approach to land Jepsen.) That collaboration grew into a multi-look partnership, including a Vancouver Pride appearance and a Mercedes-Benz campaign—both of which still feel surreal to Clayton.

These days, as his visibility has grown, so has his selectiveness. “I want celebrity placements to feel organic,” he says. “It should make sense that the person is wearing Evan Clayton and not feel like something I did for a quick hit of clout.” When it comes to staying true to his vision, his guiding principles are simple: “The moment a collection doesn’t come from my heart is the moment it stops being mine.”

The One To Watch

Steff Eleoff

Steff Eleoff makes jewellery for the It girls. Kylie Jenner, Olivia Rodrigo and Halle Bailey are among her roster of A-list clients, all of whom are drawn to her unique molten-like metals and organic, sculptural shapes. Nature has long been her primary source of inspiration, and when she’s designing, she looks to eroded, imperfect textures. Her pieces, which evoke flowing chrome-coloured lava, have garnered a cultlike following in celebrity circles. While high-profile endorsements weren’t exactly on her vision board, they’re now an inextricable part of the brand’s story.

In 2021, just one year after the Toronto-based label made its first sale, Jenner’s stylist reached out for a special project. At the time, Eleoff was certain it was a scam. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t, and months later, the Kylie Cosmetics founder was wearing custom fanglike lip adornments and matching earrings for a campaign. After that, other celebrity fans followed.

Although the attention is invariably exciting, Eleoff says that seeing her necklaces, rings and earrings on a global scale is less about public spectacle and more about internal affirmation. It reinforces what has always guided her work: that intentionality gets recognized. “It’s a reminder that thoughtful design can transcend geography and that the power of social media is so real,” she says. Still, she’s clear that celeb recognition is not the end goal. “It’s a moment of amplification, but the brand’s foundation remains rooted in craftsmanship.”

The Visionary

Sid Neigum

Womenswear designer Sid Neigum has long approached fashion like a three-dimensional puzzle: connecting a fascination with garment construction to math and science. This formula is present in all his pieces, known for their precise cuts, languid draping and fabric manipulation. His made-for-movement silhouettes are both considered and effortless, creating a power-dressing effect that has drawn in Jennifer Aniston, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Growing up in Alberta’s Drayton Valley—a small town of roughly 8,000—Neigum moved to Toronto in 2012, where his brand first started to flourish. But even with high-profile requests coming in, Neigum says he has never designed something in the hope of it blowing up on Instagram. “The pieces are meant to be worn in real life,” he says. Still, he recognizes the inherent value of star power and welcomes collaborations that make sense. “When my clothes are chosen and worn organically, the work speaks for itself.”

Case in point: Neigum still thinks fondly of the time stylist Karla Welch dressed Lorde in one of his looks—a white pleated cape—for a performance on her 2018 tour. “I knew it was a possibility because of the request from her team, but seeing her onstage in my work was on another level,” the designer recalls. For Neigum, it marked a turning point, demonstrating that dedication to even the smallest details can shine on an international stage.

This article first appeared in FASHION’s April 2026 issue. Read more stories from FASHION’s April 2026 issue here and subscribe to the print issue here.