TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- Everyone showed up, and they showed out.

More than 500 guests came through FASHION Magazine's THE ONES: Canada's Next Act, co-hosted by View the VIBE, for an official TIFF celebration bringing together fashion, film, music, media and some of the city's most influential cultural tastemakers at DPRTMNT on Tuesday, September 15.

Co-hosted by FASHION Publisher Deidre Marinelli; Senior Creative & Fashion Director, FASHION & Events, George Antonopoulos ;and Steven Branco, Editor-in-Chief of View the VIBE, the invitation-only event exceeded attendance benchmarks while delivering what its hosts set out to create: a sizable yet intimate room, curated with intention.

"THE ONES was created to celebrate the people shaping what's next in Canadian fashion and culture, and seeing that come to life during TIFF was incredibly special," said Deidre Marinelli, Publisher of FASHION. "From our cover stars to the talent in the room, the night was a celebration of Canadian creativity and the community behind it. That community is vital to our industry, and bringing FASHION and View the VIBE together — with the support of fellow media leaders, personalities and creatives — showed what's possible when we collaborate and support one another."

And the fashion did not disappoint.

Despite a rainy start, guests arrived ready for their moment, stepping onto a bold 115-foot red carpet as street style photographers captured every strut. An illuminated graffiti mural projected with THE ONES and TIFF logos set the scene before guests reached the official step-and-repeat, where Tyler Da Silva from George Pimentel's team captured the night's red carpet portraits.

Then came the View the VIBE Glambot powered by 2D House.

Using cinema-grade camera technology, guests struck a pose, flipped their hair, worked their looks and served their best Blue Steel for dramatic slow-motion red carpet moments. 2D House also provided the lighting design and equipment that transformed the expansive arrival into a red carpet experience.

Inside THE ONES

Once inside DPRTMNT, the experience continued with activations from Roberto Cavalli, Levi's, Vivier and Clarins, giving guests plenty to explore between the red carpet and dance floor.

Guests were invited to step in front of the lens for FASHION After Dark, an intimate portrait activation photographed by Ryan Emberley, capturing the late-night energy of THE ONES through his signature after-hours lens.

Eatertainment kept the room fuelled with bites throughout the evening, including a dessert bar, while Bibigo served up delicious dumplings alongside a personalized chopstick activation, giving guests a custom keepsake to take home. At the bars, guests enjoyed Mezzacorona Wines, Kronenbourg 1664, Dillon's Gin and Vodka cocktails, and 1800 Tequila Cristalino cocktails, alongside Greenhouse Juices and San Pellegrino.

DJs Natalie Rivera, DevoDLive and Karim Olen Ash kept the room moving throughout the night, building the energy around a surprise performance by Vaughan's Nicolina (Nicolina Bozzo). The American Idol Top 5 finalist and Canada's Got Talent Golden Buzzer recipient took over the stage for a multi-song set, including her original "Situations."

The guest list mixed established names across Canadian fashion, art, hospitality, culture and entertainment with a new generation of talent and creators.

Among those spotted were TIFF's Chief Business and Marketing Officer Jennifer Frees and Vice President, Strategy, Communications & Stakeholder Relations Judy Lung; Fefe Dobson; Glen Baxter; Charles Lu; Greta Constantine's Kirk Pickersgill; INK's Charles Khabouth and Danny Soberano; Justin Wu; Devo Brown; the Beckerman Twins; Nick Merzetti; Marc Andrew Smith; Bobby Bowen; Patricia Jaggernauth; Brandon Gonez; Sebastien Centner; NARCES designer Nikki Wirthensohn Yassemi; Mario Fugnitto; and Fashion Art Toronto founder Vanja Vasic, alongside other executives, designers, actors, artists and personalities from across creative industries and more.

Also in the room were FASHION's September 2026 THE ONES cover stars — Heated Rivalry's Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova, the Star Trek universe's Humberly González and Ginny & Georgia's Nathan Mitchell — bringing the September Issue that inspired the celebration to life.

One last surprise

Later in the evening, Blondies Pizza arrived with a surprise white-glove late-night delivery as Karim Olen Ash brought the room back to the dance floor to close out the night.

And nobody left empty-handed.

Guests walked away with an oversized, stacked gift bag packed with full-size products and surprises from Jouviance, Face Pilates, NARS, Clarins, Greenhouse Juice Co., Imarais Beauty, Levi's, Roberto Cavalli, Vivier, Bibigo, HB Face, Jean Paul Gaultier, Wellibites, Marc Anthony, Suave, Q-tips and POND'S — prompting comparisons from attendees to the legendary gifting of Toronto's MMVA era.

"We wanted THE ONES to reflect the diversity of the city and the incredible talent shaping Canadian culture, while continuing to raise the bar for what we produce here," said Steven Branco, Editor-in-Chief of View the VIBE. "Toronto can deliver world-class content, experiences and events at an international level, and this night was about showing our industry — and the world — exactly that."

From the 115-foot red carpet and View the VIBE Glambot powered by 2D House to the brand experiences, surprise performance, late-night pizza drop and packed dance floor, THE ONES put Canadian talent, fashion and Toronto culture at the centre of TIFF.

And judging by the reaction in the room and across social media, THE ONES is already being referred to as, "the party of the year."

NOTE TO EDITORS

High-resolution photos and video are available here, including official red carpet and event photography by George Pimentel Photography; FASHION After Dark photography by Ryan Emberley; street style and behind-the-scenes photography by Adriana Perez F., Chris Cheung, Fred Abramov, Jess Byrne, Joaquin Ceballos, Mallory Turner, Matt Reid, Seamus Easton, Wilson Mathew and Yikand Li; and View the VIBE Glambot clips powered by 2D House.

Please credit all photography and video accordingly.

About FASHION

FASHION is one of Canada's leading fashion and beauty media brands, celebrating inclusive, progressive style and inspiring audiences across digital, print, social and live experiences. FASHION is published by SJC Media.

About View the VIBE

Established in 2010, View the VIBE is a leading Toronto digital lifestyle publication covering food, hospitality, fashion, entertainment and culture through editorial, video, social storytelling and live experiences. View the VIBE is published by Stamina Group.

SOURCE STAMINA Group Inc.