From farm to fame, Kamloops fashionista competing on Project Runway Canada

Delayne Dixon is a successful fashion designer in Kamloops who continues to rise to fame with her edgy handmade pieces.

She had her dazzling designs on international runways and worn by celebrities on the red carpet. Most recently, Dixon was a contestant on Project Runway Canada.

The show stars a panel of fashion judges that are well-known in the industry, and 12 contestants battle for the title of Canada’s Next Great Designer. The winner receives a career launching investment of $100,000 from TD Bank and a feature article in Elle Canada magazine, according to Elle Canada.

Project Runway Canada first aired in 2007, but the series was cancelled after the second season.

The show was revived with its first episode airing on Nov. 14. Designers were challenged to repurpose old denim into high fashion pieces. A winner was chosen and one designer was let go.

The second episode aired last week and that’s when Dixon shone. It was L’Oreal Paris themed challenge, featuring the famous brand’s colours of red, gold, black and white. She stole the show with her design that paired houndstooth and sequins, winning $5,000.

iNFOnews.ca has been following Dixon’s dazzling rise in the fashion industry and stopped by to see her at her home studio earlier this year when she was working on a collection to be showcased at an exclusive celebrity boutique in Beverly Hills.

Starting her business a little over a year a decade ago, Dixon has taken her Kamloops-based modelling team to fashion week events in New York and Paris, had her pieces showcased in Vogue magazine and had her gold and black houndstooth dress worn on the red carpet at the 2022 Oscars.

“I feel like I’m an anxious person and have imposter syndrome,” Dixon said in a previous interview. “I don’t feel I’m as good as people think I am but I also need to start owning it and be proud of where I’ve come because I’ve come along way.”

The 33-year-old was raised on a farm in the town of Fairview in Northern Alberta and always had a passion for fashion. After high school, she went to the Art Institute of Vancouver and completed a bachelor’s of design in fashion in 2012.

She jumped into designing and sewing fashion pieces while working part time jobs to support her passion, eventually moving to Kamloops a family member lived. In 2019, she lost her job and poured all of her energy and finances into her brand.

Dixon is not permitted to comment until the final episode of Project Runway Canada airs.

Go here to watch the next episodes of Project Runway Canada streaming every Friday until the grande finale on Jan. 16.