When Toronto-based designer Steven Lejambe received the news that he’d been nominated for the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in Fashion at the 2020 Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards , he was elated. The nomination represented a pivotal moment in the fashion career he has been building since 2016, as well as a shred of hope in the midst of being pummelled by disappointing news.
who have lost their entire livelihoods in the span of a few days thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the estimated $10,000 to $15,000 in new business he expected to earn from the trade show, he lost $7,000 to $10,000 in evening dress commissions due to cancelled events and was laid off from his full-time retail job at John Fluevog Shoes.