Minimidimaxi Magazine

Montrealer Pao Lim has won the Smirnoff International Fashion Award for 2000. The 33-year-old design student has a particularly Montréal approach to fashion: “I try to create a link between architecture and clothing.” He claims the avant-garde and Bauhaus movements of the 20’s were his inspiration. No doubt the proliferation of 1960’s geometric minimalism in Montreal surface and subterranean architecture (and the futuristic optimism that spawned it) has an influence on Lim’s collection. The theme of this year’s competition, “Liberation”, was the showcase that saw Lim become the second Canadian to garner this accolaide. The other, Frédéric Tremblay of Montréal, won the award in 1992 and is now lead designer with Marc Jacobs in New York.

For distinguishing himself out of 16 contestants from 5 continents at the New York event, Lim will receive a $21,000 U.S. cash award, sponsorship of his debut fashion show and public-relations advice for a year. After graduating from École Supérieure de Mode de Montréal, Lim will pursue a master’s degree at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design in London.