A passion for fashion, Biffi-style
GUELPH — Being number two isn’t so bad, Jessica Biffi has come to realize.
The Guelph-born Biffi was a little crushed when she lost out to Sunny Fong in last year’s season of Project Runway Canada, a reality TV show centred on fashion designers.
But since the program aired, Biffi has created two plus-size clothing lines, for Addition Elle and Penningtons’s MXM line and she was in Guelph Wednesday to launch the collection at Penningtons on Stone Road.
“Doors have opened for me,” the 26-year-old said. “It’s hard to feel bad about losing when everything is going so well.”
Biffi said she always had a passion for fashion. She and her grandmother would create the wildest outfits for her Barbie doll collection as a little girl and she was constantly sketching outfits in high school.
She took a fashion class in Grade 11 at Centre Wellington District High School and competed in the fashion design category of the Skills Canada contest, winning a silver medal one year.
“I realized I had a natural talent for it,” she said.
Her guidance counsellor did, too, and advised her to look into Ryerson’s fashion program. That really opened her eyes, she said.
“I saw what could be possible. Who knew you could make a living at this?”
She wasn’t chosen for the first season of Project Runway although she applied, but was picked up for the second season.
She was working for Addition Elle in Toronto as a visual merchandiser and the company was very accommodating when she left to be on the show. When it was finished, Addition Elle asked her to create the plus-size clothing lines.
“I’m plus-size myself, so I know what women are looking for,” she said. “I like the infusion of colour. It’s youthful and fun.”
Biffi has created nine pieces for the Penningtons collection — skinny jeans, leggings, tunic-style tops and a shrug sweater.
The collection is inspired by India and Morocco, with draping fabrics reminiscent of the sari and gold details that feel like jewelry.
“That’s my signature — the gold and the draping,” she said.
But they also feature other things — like good quality stretch denim that breathes and retains its shape, empire waists for a leaner look, and detail around the neck line to draw attention toward the face. These are the tricks well-known to plus-sized women too.
The whole collection works together for mix and match options and most pieces cost about $50.
The clothing line for Addition Elle is based on the Phoenix, with colours like fire and feathers.
“I’m very much a theme designer. And I love the idea of the spring collection being reborn,” she said.
She’s also created a fall collection for her regular Jessica Biffi clothing line and is working on next year’s spring line.
It’s been a whirlwind. Next week she’s off to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton for launch parties there. Then she’s back in Toronto for some media engagements, like a spot on Breakfast Television.
In some ways Project Runway prepared her for that too.
“On Day 1 of the show, they put a mike pack on me and it was strangely comfortable. I was always a ham in front of a camera,” she said. “But on the show, Canada got to see how I am as a person and the public has been very receptive. It’s lucky, because this is a tough industry.”
Shelley O’Keeffe said her customers have been buzzing since learning Biffi was coming to town.
“I’m super stoked about it. Usually these things are done in Toronto,” O’Keeffe said. “I was a fan of Jessica on the show and now she’s created a line for us. Designer name and fabrics at Penningtons prices. It’s just perfect.”