PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA x CHARLES LU | Finale Runway Collection | #projectrunway #fashionshow #fashion

PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA x CHARLES LU Episode 10: The Final Runway Placement: Top 3 Finalist Presenting my 10-look finale collection. Seeing it come to life on the runway, with my mother and father in the audience, was one of the most emotional moments of my life. I kept this collection hidden from them for 7 weeks. They had no idea what it looked like or what it was about. This was for them. The collection begins in black and gradually moves toward a soft white, tracing a shift from structure to softness. It opens with shorter silhouettes, grounded in control and restraint. By the third look, the story begins to unfold. References to Vietnam emerge through the shape of the ‘Áo Dài’, reinterpreted through my lens and merged with streetwear. Utility, tailoring, and ease exist together. The second look draws from my father’s workwear, while the seventh look translates my mother’s favourite flower, the orchid, into form. A pink and black look softens the tension, holding strength and tenderness at once. This collection started when I met my grandmother in April 2025. Finding her and speaking to her for the first time connected me to my roots in a way I had never experienced. That moment led me to my parents’ journey as Vietnamese refugees coming to Canada and the life they built through resilience and sacrifice. I set aside ego and designed from a place of truth. Every piece carries that intention. As the collection moves forward, it becomes lighter, softer, more vulnerable. It reflects my own evolution. This was not just about fashion. It was about family, identity, and honouring where I come from. Stream the latest episode of @ProjectRunwayCanada only on @CraveCanada. #projectrunwaycanada #projectrunway #fashiondesigner