Join us for a vibrant panel discussion exploring how The Beatles distinctive style continues to shape contemporary fashion. The conversation brings together Deirdre Kelly, author of Fashioning the Beatles: The Looks that Shook the World; Joey Gollish, creative director of Roots and founder of Mr. Saturday; Toronto designers Lori Mancuz and Catherine Robinson of Call and Response Clothing; and fashion designer and advocate David Dixon. Together, they reflect on the lasting influence of The Beatles’ visual identity and its relevance for designers today.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Deirdre Kelly has been covering arts and culture since 1985 as a Globe and Mail dance critic, pop music critic, fashion reporter, columnist, and investigative journalist. An award winning journalist and author,  her latest book, Fashioning The Beatles: The Looks That Shook The World—an Amazon bestseller praised by Salon, The New York Sun and the South China Morning Post—is the first to explore in depth the Fab Four’s lasting impact on fashion and popular culture. It traces how their visual evolution mirrored the social transformations of the 1960s and beyond, and why their influence has never gone out of style.

Canadian born designer, David Dixon was trained and educated at Ryerson University (TMU). In 1995, after an apprenticeship with Canadian designer Alfred Sung, Dixon established his own label. He started out at the Toronto Fashion Incubator, a highly respected training ground for up-and-coming new designers, and began manufacturing and wholesaling his own line in 1996. Today, David Dixon’s designs are sold globally and caters to a sophisticated, smart and worldly client base. 

Joey Gollish is the founder and Creative Director of Mr. Saturday, a Toronto-based luxury label recognized for its narrative-driven collections that blend historical reference, subculture, and craftsmanship.  In 2023, Gollish became the first Creative Director in Residence at Roots, one of Canada’s most iconic heritage brands, a role created specifically for him. At Roots, he plays a key role in evolving the brand’s creative language, expanding its cultural relevance, and bridging heritage craftsmanship with contemporary design. 

Call and Response is the creation of Catharine Robinson, Lori Marcuz, and Annie McDayter. They are an art-minded, music-influenced design studio and conceptual project: women-led and founded with a focus on creation, process, and technique.